Storytelling School: Recent Episodes

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It’s my very first time at Comic-Con. I’m with my dear friend Denise, and it’s her first time, too. The second we arrive in downtown San Diego, we’re hit with a wave of everything - cosplayers everywhere, camera crews darting around, and volunteers all over the place. There are 135,000 people moving in every direction at once. It’s buzzing, massive, and honestly thrilling!

Since it’s Day One, we find our way to the convention center and step onto this long escalator. We’re heading up to the top, and I’m trying to act calm - for Denise, sure, but really for myself, too. Inside, my mind is racing: Are we in the right place? Did we come in the right entrance? Where do I get my badge? What should we do first? I don’t want to miss a thing!

That low-level panic kicks in because if we don’t figure this out fast, we’ll waste time and miss something amazing. Excitement and chaos collide, and my brain is ping-ponging:

Logistics

Priorities

Schedules

Locations

…all while I’m trying to look completely unfazed. The escalator keeps climbing, steep and endless.

Then we reach the top, and there he is standing right in the middle of all the noise and commotion: Alan Irwin. He makes eye contact, smiles, and says, “Welcome to Comic-Con!” That one sentence shifts everything. The noise is still there; the crowd hasn’t changed… but I have. I suddenly feel grounded. I know that we’re in the right place and that everything is going to be fine.

Alan didn’t give instructions or solve anything in that moment; his presence did all the work. In a sea of overstimulation, he connected with a simple smile and eye contact, and I thought: Of course. That’s why he’s here. Out of all the volunteers, they placed Alan at the top of the escalators. He goes beyond crowd management—he meets people where they are. He reads the energy and centers the entire room.

That’s crowd work at the highest level, and today, I have Alan Irwin on the Storytelling School Podcast so we can talk about exactly how he does this!

You’ll learn how simple eye contact can instantly shift someone’s entire state of mind, how powerful confidence can be (even when borrowed from a “character”), and so much more. We’ll also answer questions like: What makes storytelling the fastest path to building trust? Does true “crowd work” mean co-creating the experience with the audience? How is it that a speaker's resilience is measured not by avoiding mistakes but by how they recover from them? What could possibly be more essential than finding the joy or purpose in your own message before you even share it?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why speakers borrow traits from admired figures, stepping into a “character” to project confidence
• How great speaking isn’t talking at people
• Why resilience matters more than perfection and how mistakes and technical failures are inevitable
• What about joy makes it the ultimate anchor

Who is Alan?

Storytelling has played a role in both of Alan Irwin’s careers in different ways. He recently retired from a career spent in the infrared industry as a senior software engineer by day. However, he stumbled into Improvisational Comedy in his 30s and by night has performed it for over 30 years, while also spending most of that time teaching Improv.

Improvisation has transformed Alan’s teaching. His secret weapon lies in his penchant for making complex subjects accessible and fun. It has served him well worldwide in speaking engagements on a wide range of other topics, from robotics to crisis intervention (including suicide prevention). He’s taken on the task of communicating very complex ideas to others in tech (and his interests, like geek culture and cheesemaking).

Links and Resources:

• Santa Barbara Improv
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingschool on Facebook

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It’s a Tuesday morning. I am sitting in front of my computer, matcha tea in hand, staring at my podcast dashboard. A little number in the top corner catches my eye. 200 episodes, 200! Part of me can’t even believe it. I think back to those first recordings; I was so nervous, wondering if people would care about storytelling the way I do, yet week after week, I kept going.

I didn’t always know if I’d have the time, the stories, or the right guests to keep it fresh. But every single conversation, every solo episode, every moment behind the mic has taught me something. And at each milestone, I’ve marked it by pulling together the best mic drop moments into one ultimate storytelling highlight reel. I did it at episode 100. I did it at 150. And today, at 200, we’re doing it again!

You’re about to hear unforgettable moments from episodes 151 to 200. These insights can change the way you tell stories, the way you speak on stage, and help you be the one who’s unforgettable.

If you’ve been with me since the early days, thank you. Listeners, you know the drill: this is where the wisdom comes fast and furious. And if you’re new, welcome!

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or, as I discuss in this episode, the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingschool on Facebook

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I am standing on a court in Santa Barbara, and it's my very first pickleball lesson. I arrived early and I’m already warmed up, focused and ready to do everything exactly right. In fact, even before booking this lesson, I researched every single coach in town. I landed on Richard Pastoria because he's the real deal: a professional coach for over 25 years, the resident pickleball pro at the Valley Club of Montecito, and - not only that - he also has a military background. That combination of structure and discipline and high standards speaks to me because I've been an athlete my entire life, and I take performance seriously, so I want to work with someone who brings that level of excellence and who understands focus like I do. I'm thinking we are going to be perfectly aligned.

A few minutes into the lesson, we are already deep into a drill, and Coach Richard feeds me a ball. I move the way I think I'm supposed to and swing the way I think I'm supposed to… and I completely miss. Instantly, I feel my entire body tighten. I start analyzing. What did I do wrong? Was it my grip, or maybe it was my footwork? Or it could be my timing…

I replay this moment in my mind, and I start getting mad at myself because I'm doing what he's telling me to do. I can feel myself spiraling faster and faster. I am an athlete. I should be able to do this. I should be able to pick this up.

I want so badly to get this right. It’s at this moment that Coach Richard can see me spiraling. Across the court, I hear him yell out, “Kymberlee!” Okay, here it comes. I'm bracing myself, thinking that it's going to be a technical adjustment, another drill, and he says, “It's just pickleball.” That's it. No lecture, no overanalysis, just those three words.

At that moment, I laugh. My shoulders drop, and I stop holding my breath because he's right; it is just pickleball. All of a sudden, I think, what if this were fun? Everything shifts. I keep playing, but now I feel lighter, looser, still focused but not robotic. I start laughing when I miss. I reset faster and strangely start hitting the ball better, and I realize that I don't have to choose between working hard and also having fun. I can actually care deeply and enjoy myself at the exact same time, and that paradox, that is where the power is.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, I discuss what you can do to make your story truly land, why too much control kills connection, and so much more. You’ll get answers to questions like:

How can you be both serious about your performance and still have fun at the same time? What elements need to be in alignment in order to deliver a memorable Talk? How can you tell a compelling story without sounding robotic or rehearsed?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How mastery over your Talk is in the balance between effort and ease
• Why your energy should be in sync with your story
• Why perfection is not persuasive
• Why letting go just enough creates the necessary space for authenticity, flow, and real impact

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or, as I discuss in this episode, the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingschool on Facebook

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I'm on a Zoom call with one of my private clients. She is a powerhouse executive and is preparing for a TED-style keynote. Her ideas are solid, and her story is incredible; it's emotional, has high stakes and everything you would want in an opening story. And the rest of her Talk? That’s epic as well. Plus, she's done the work and is ready to go.

We start rehearsing and everything… falls flat.

Her delivery is kind of robotic, and there's no energy in her voice. Even the transitions between her story and her insights kind of feel like speed bumps. She is reciting her script but isn't truly owning her message, and I can see it in her face - she's frustrated. She feels the pressure, and the doubt starts creeping in.

I stop her right in the middle of the rehearsal and say, “All right, let's forget the script. Instead, just tell me your story and share your Talk with me as if we're at dinner.” So she starts over, and everything changes. Even her body shifts and changes. Her words flow, and her transitions feel human. Instead of presenting, she's now actually connecting with me. That's the difference between reciting a Talk and owning every single moment of it.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, I discuss how truly effective rehearsing isn't about memorizing a script, why emotionally and physically integrating your message can truly connect you to your audience, and so much more. You’ll get answers to questions like:

What makes presence so much more important than perfection? How does mental rehearsal increase confidence and clarity? How can you rehearse in a way that helps your audience feel that you’re speaking with them instead of at them?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why rehearsing effectively means integrating your message and not just memorizing your words
• How to strengthen your emotional connection to prevent your Talk from falling flat
• Why it’s essential to rehearse your full Talk and not just your story to create maximum impact

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or, as I discuss in this episode, the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingschool on Facebook

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I’m working with my client on a TEDx Talk. In her opening story, she shares a vivid moment from her childhood: She is standing on a stranger's doorstep, completely nervous and uncertain if anyone is going to answer at all. It's a small detail yet it’s emotionally powerful and completely gripping.

After the story, we go ahead and develop the rest of the Talk. And as a whole, her Talk is strong. It's structured and meaningful… except when we get to the end. Something is missing. Her idea and her content are clear, but there isn't really an emotional lift at the end. I suggest going back to that moment at the doorstep and bringing the story full circle, reconnecting the audience with that feeling of standing on that doorstep. So she tries it, and guess what? It changed everything.

At the end of her Talk, the emotion rushes in, and suddenly, we, the audience, go from being in listener mode to actually feeling the story and reconnecting to that feeling that we felt in her opening story. We can actually see the story in our mind's eye. That one callback ends up transforming her Talk, which has now been viewed over a million times.

In this episode of Storytelling School, I explain how a well-placed callback can truly transform your Talk by creating satisfying closure and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. You’ll get answers to questions like:

What is a callback, and why is it important? How does using a well-placed callback in your Talk strengthen its impact? How can even just one powerful detail from your story be the key to making your ending unforgettable?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why repeated emotional cues create deeper audience engagement
• How to find and evolve a meaningful moment in your story
• Why one callback is more powerful than many

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or, as I discuss in this episode, the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingschool on Facebook

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I am standing in the dojo, drenched in sweat. We’re in the middle of a dynamic circle knife drill, and I’m surrounded by fellow black belts, each armed with metal training knives and ready to attack in a simulation of real-life danger - fast, chaotic, and unrelenting.

At first, I hold my own, fueled by adrenaline and a strong desire to prove that I can hang with the best. I move quickly, using flashy moves and relying on sheer speed, but as the drill speeds up, my technique falls apart. I'm rushing transitions, missing critical details, and losing confidence. My partners sense the chaos, pressing harder, and I fall further out of my flow.

Out of nowhere, my Grandmaster claps his hands and yells, “Stop!” Everyone and everything freezes. He walks over to me and simply says, “Master Kymberlee, go slow to go fast.” Those five words hit me like a punch to the chest. When it’s my turn again. I take my place back in the middle of the circle and take a deep breath. The attacks begin and I do the opposite of what I was doing before. I slow down. I breathe. Suddenly, something shifts. My awareness expands. My movements become sharper, more intentional, and ironically, even faster. The disarms land. The flow returns. This specific drill changes everything, and not only how I train; it ultimately changes how I teach, how I move, even how I tell stories!

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn what knife fighting taught me about storytelling and why it’s important to practice slowing down so that you’re having a bigger, more lasting impact on your audience. You’ll get answers to questions like:

How can slowing down your storytelling method make you a more impactful and memorable storyteller? What are the "slow power" techniques that you can apply to your own storytelling and speaking methods? In what ways can pacing and pauses help build suspense to captivate your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How going slow in storytelling allows the audience to connect on a deeper level
• Why slowing down signals strength and confidence and commands the audience's attention
• How practicing storytelling slowly helps build muscle memory so that you can deliver with precision when it matters most

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or, as I discuss in this episode, the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I'm a freshman at the University of Hawaii, living the dream on a full-ride softball scholarship. One night during finals week, my roommate and I decide to take a break from studying and grab a bite to eat. On our way back to the dorms, riding our mopeds, the unthinkable happens and I get hit… by a cement truck.

I wake up five days later in the hospital with massive head injuries and indescribable pain. The doctor tells me that my sense of taste and smell is gone, permanently.

For years, I don’t talk about the accident. I think, who wants to hear a story like that? It feels too random, too graphic, and definitely too personal. Until one day I work up the courage to share it on stage. And something unexpected happens:

People respond.

They come up to me, asking questions, and wanting to hear more - not about the accident itself but about the comeback. They’re curious about how I found my way from a hospital bed back to the softball field and how that journey changed who I was.

That experience taught me something powerful. So often we judge our own stories too harshly. We convince ourselves that no one will care, that our experiences are too strange, too painful, or too irrelevant to share, but sometimes, the story we most want to hide is exactly the story someone else needs to hear, and joining me in this episode of Storytelling School is someone who can really help attest to that, my special guest today, Cameron Stout. Cam is a respected CLE speaker, financial services defense litigator, mental wellness advocate and founder of Stout Heart, Inc. - and someone who truly knows exactly what it means to speak your truth inside of a story, especially when that truth is raw, personal, and might feel like too much.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we talk about how sharing personal stories, even those that feel too raw or heavy, can be incredibly powerful and impactful. We’ll also answer questions such as: How can you find the courage to share your personal stories? How can cultivating humility and self-awareness enhance one's ability to inspire and lead others? What fears or hesitations might be holding you back from sharing your authentic story, and how can you overcome them? In what ways can focusing on the process rather than the outcome lead to more fulfillment and growth? How can building on humility and self-awareness enhance one's ability to inspire and lead others?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How connecting with the audience and finding "allies" in the room can help you build confidence when speaking
• Why authenticity and honesty are so important when telling stories, even if they are difficult to share
• How focusing on the process and being of service to others can be more rewarding than just focusing on the end goal
• How developing bravery and allowing it to come through can enhance one's storytelling abilities over time

Who is Cam?

Cameron “Cam” Stout is a respected CLE speaker, financial services defense litigator, and mental wellness advocate who founded Stout Heart, Inc. After experiencing a major depressive episode in 2013 that led to hospitalization, Cam began a journey of recovery through therapy, support, and self-care, which he now shares in talks across the country. A Princeton graduate and father of two, he lives in Marin County, CA, where he remains active in sports and serves as an elder at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.

Links and Resources

• Cam’s LinkedIn Page
• Cam on Facebook
• Stout Heart, Inc. Website
• Stout Heart, Inc. Blog
• Stout Heart, Inc. on YouTube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It's the early 2000s, and I get invited to speak in New York to a room full of tech heavyweights - people and thought leaders I dreamed of being in front of. I am determined to crush it, so I do what any overachiever would: I obsess.

I write, rewrite, and practice endlessly. No improvising. No mistakes. I even buy a stiff, serious outfit that doesn’t feel like me but seems like something a “real” speaker would wear.

On the day of the event I deliver my Talk flawlessly, every word in place. The audience claps, though I leave feeling like something is off. It was perfect, yes, but ultimately flat. I felt like I had given a transcript instead of a speech.

Fast-forward three years later, and I’m at TED for the first time. 5 days filled with 80 speakers. It hits me that the Talks that tend to stay with me aren’t the perfectly polished ones. They’re the raw, real, unfiltered ones. No armor, no script… just humans being human. And that’s when I decide I am done choosing robotic over real. The Talks that move us, that shift our hearts and minds, are the ones that breathe. They make us feel like we’ve experienced something rare.

And speaking of showing up with unfiltered and raw authenticity, my special guest today, Michelle Claffey, embraces that wholeheartedly. Michelle is a leadership and team coach, with a background in organic chemistry, who specializes in helping leaders and organizations embrace authenticity, courage, and confidence.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how effective leadership and communication benefits from being authentic and vulnerable. We’ll also answer questions such as: How can you move from simply delivering information to creating an authentic, immersive experience for your audience? How can you use the power of storytelling to connect and motivate? How can you reframe your perspective and shift the narrative to empower yourself and inspire others?

What you will learn in this episode:

• The powerful tool you can use to connect with your audience
• Why you don’t need to deliver a "perfect" performance
• How reframing limiting beliefs and self-doubt can empower you
• What leveraging stories as analogies or metaphors can do for you

Who is Michelle?

Michelle Claffey is a leadership and team coach who specializes in helping leaders and organizations embrace authenticity, courage, and confidence. With a background in organic chemistry and a career shift into coaching, she truly brings a unique perspective to her work and is passionate about empowering others to find their authentic voice and lead with impact. She often incorporates storytelling and interactive experiences into her workshops and facilitation.

Links and Resources

• Claffey Leadership Website
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2006. I am sitting in the audience at TED surrounded by visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders. The energy in the room is electric and everyone is buzzing with anticipation about who’s going to take the stage next and what new insight we’ll walk away with. When the next speaker, a Swedish professor specializing in global health and data, is introduced, I brace myself for a dry, academic talk full of statistics and charts.

Instead, the speaker starts moving across the stage with visible, infectious enthusiasm, pointing at animated visuals and telling a story through data. Slowly, the entire audience becomes captivated.

He isn’t just presenting facts; he is truly humanizing them. Each statistic becomes a character, each data point a moment in a story, and by the end, what started as numbers on a screen has been transformed into something deeply human and emotionally resonant. I remember thinking: this is what it looks like when data and storytelling meet. The numbers didn’t fade away; they stayed with me… and still do to this day.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you will learn how data can be brought to life with storytelling. In the process, you’ll discover why providing context, characters, and consequences makes things more memorable and impactful for the audience, and you’ll get answers to questions like:

What are some key elements to focus on when using storytelling to make data more impactful? Why is it important to earn the right to share data by first setting the stage with a story? What are some common pitfalls to avoid when trying to combine data and storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What methods to use to bring your data to life with storytelling
• Why you should avoid simply presenting raw statistics or data
• How specific details and micro-stories can help the audience visualize and empathize with data
• Why it’s important to set the scene and highlight what exactly is at stake
• How to contrast the expected with the reality to capture attention

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I am coaching a speaker as she prepares for one of the biggest keynotes of her career. Her story is powerful, full of resilience and triumph. As she runs through her story, I am captivated... until it just... stops.

She smiles, says thank you, and that’s it. There is no call to action and no invitation. I deliver the news, gently: her ending isn’t serving her or the audience.

She pushes back because she doesn’t want to sound salesy. And while I do definitely understand her concerns, I explain that, while her story hits hard, her ending needs to hit home. So we roll up the sleeves and get back to work, keeping the emotional core intact and reshaping her closing into a call to action that mirrors the emotional arc of her story. And guess what? It doesn’t feel forced; her final line ties back to her opening message and invites the audience to step into their own transformation.

When she takes the stage, the response is absolutely incredible. After delivering her Talk, a flurry of people approach her. One of them ends up booking her. Another one wants to feature her in an article. One person even tells her that the challenge she issued changed something significant for them.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn why having a CTA (Call To Action) at the conclusion of your story is so important. In the process, you’ll discover why your CTA needs to be consistent with the emotional tone of your story, and get answers to questions like:

How can you get your message to ripple out further than the audience in front of you? What kind of change could you inspire if your story didn’t simply end with “The End”? How do you turn an emotional story into impactful action?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why your Talk needs a clear CTA (Call To Action)
• What are the different CTA types and when to use them
• How to make sure that the CTA fits your story’s emotional tone
• Why keeping things simple is crucial

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m running a high-stakes speaking event and, as I always do, I have everyone share their name and something interesting that may not be on their bio. We go around, one by one, with people sharing surprising facts and fun stories. The energy is light and full of laughter. Until we get to the last person who says, “Hi. I'm Sandy Zabarsky, and I just got out of prison.”

The whole room goes silent, and you can hear a pin drop. All eyes are on her, and for a split second, you can almost see the assumptions kicking in.

Is she really just out of prison?

Did I even hear that right?

She continues and says, “I've been an educator for most of my career. I’ve worked in the juvenile justice system, and I recently retired. So yes, I’ve been in prison, so to speak, for almost my entire career.”

In an instant, the meaning of her words changes completely. The tension in the room releases and transforms. Sandy Zabarsky, also known as my mom, knew that education could change the trajectory of a life by rewriting their story. She helped these kids earn their GEDs because that piece of paper could mean the difference between repeating the cycle or stepping into something new, giving them options and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

When we look at storytelling it isn’t just about entertainment or children’s books; it’s how we shape reality, and no one knows that better than my special guest today. Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized education leader, known for his innovative approach to children's learning. Having held key roles at KidZania and the Children’s University, he also serves as a professor and advisor to various global education organizations. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about why storytelling is so important in education, what common misconceptions exist about new technology, and so much more. We’ll also answer questions such as: How does storytelling impact learning? What are some hidden narratives in education that actually shape decisions and opportunities? How could storytelling be integrated into school curriculums? How can we change our mindset to embrace change instead of resisting it? What you will learn in this episode:

• The power of perspective and how a dramatic introduction can immediately shift perceptions
• How stories make learning more meaningful than rote memorization
• The value of personal narratives and how everyone, younger and older, has valuable stories to share
• How storytelling helps us process emotions and connect with others

Who is Dr. Graus? Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized leader in education, known for his unique and innovative approach to children's learning. He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding C.E.O. of the Children’s University, advocating for equity, creativity, and progress in education. He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and a PhD Advisory Council member at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He holds advisory roles with various global education organizations, including Bett’s Global Education Council and Dubai Future Councils, and he has received multiple accolades, including an OBE in 2014 and the Global Education Leadership Award in 2018. His professional autobiography, Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education, is set for publication in 2025 via Routledge.

Links and Resources

• Dr. Ger Graus’ Website
• Dr. Ger Graus on LinkedIn
• Pre-Order Through a Different Lens
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the end of 2002 and I am fully immersed in the world of technology, running a bicoastal tech event. Over lunch with a new connection, we start unraveling a really wild idea - what if we were to build a software application using technology that has never been combined before? Just for fun, we scribble our ideas onto a napkin.

A few days later, something truly incredible happens. We get invited to build this software for the TED Conference. I think to myself, This is way out of my league. We have no team. No roadmap. Just a napkin. And only eight weeks to somehow make this happen.

However, the chance to create something that the world has never seen before is way too thrilling to ignore, so within a weekend, we pull together a team from all over the U.S. and Canada. Eight weeks go by, and we barely sleep. There are moments where I wonder, Is this a huge mistake? Day after day, though, fueled by adrenaline and sheer audacity, we keep pushing forward.

When TED arrives, we hold our breath as we unveil our creation. Guess what? Not only does it work, but people engage with the software in ways we never even imagined. In that moment – watching as people interact and seeing our vision come to life – it truly hits me that we did it. And that moment changes everything.

As it turns out, a little innovation and audacity can rewrite the rules in a life-altering way. Someone who knows all about that is today's guest, Gina Osborn. After nearly three decades in law enforcement chasing Cold War spies, foiling terrorist plots, and tracking down cybercriminals, this is just another day on the job for her. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the best way to build rapport, whether the glass ceiling is just a state of mind, and the consequences of choosing a hill to die on. You’ll also get answers to questions like:

How do real-life experiences shape the way we tell and also interpret stories? How can unexpected challenges or turning points redefine the course of a story - or of a life? And how do you get wary people to trust you?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How being innovative and audacious can lead to unexpected success
• How role models can help shape our beliefs about what’s possible
• How careers can be redefined by both adversity and opportunities
• The importance of collaboration and persistence when taking on a challenge
• Why preparation and resilience are important in any career - especially a dangerous one

Who is Gina? Gina Osborn spent 28 years in law enforcement where she took on espionage, terrorism, and cybercrime. Initially beginning her career in 1986 as a Counterintelligence Special Agent in the U.S. Army handling high-profile Cold War espionage cases in Europe, she transitioned in 1996 by joining the FBI, where she investigated Asian Organized Crime, supervised counterterrorism operations in Southeast Asia, and led major cybercrime cases.

After her retirement in 2018, Gina became a sought-after keynote speaker, using her real-life experiences to educate and inspire audiences. She is also the host of the upcoming podcast Making Maverick Moves which will feature trailblazers who challenge norms and redefine success!

Links and Resources

• Gina Osborn on LinkedIn
• Gina Osborn on Facebook
• Gina Osborn on Instagram
• Gina Osborn on YouTube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It's 2014. As the year draws to a close, all of my friends come up with their New Year’s resolutions, ranging from dropping bad habits to losing weight. But while I create my list of resolutions on the eve of the new year, I realize it isn’t going to work.

Sure, I write them out every year with the best intentions in mind, but I forget some of them by February and even blow by others in January. At the end of the year, when reflecting back, it’s the goals I haven’t reached that make me feel like I’m failing.

Walking on the beach that morning with my matcha latte, I wonder, “What if there were a new way to set intentions for the year ahead? What if those intentions actually made a significant difference in our lives?”

Then it hits me. Instead of doing the usual thing, I’m going to give the upcoming year a short, memorable, spicy name. I’m going to name my year based on who I want to become, not who I am today.

No more lists, no more forgetting, no more failing. I will live into what I’ve named my year with every decision I make and every action I take.

What happens as a result? Everything. Outcomes change based on what I name my year, and it has such a profound effect on me that I start teaching others to do it and have incredible transformations of their own.

Now it’s your turn! In this short but very special episode, I talk about changing your year (and your life) with one, simple word or phrase and demonstrate why it works better than your typical New Year’s resolution.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to create a new story of yourself and your life by naming your year
• Why you shouldn’t keep this new story of yours a secret from others
• How to check in daily to ensure your story stays on track throughout the year

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in a high-stakes game throwing pitch after pitch after pitch for the University of Hawaii. I feel the ball roll off of my fingers in a perfect spin towards the catcher’s mitt. Then, I notice a sharp, burning pain in my finger, glance down, and see that I’ve worn a hole all the way down to the bone!

The coaches grab me and take me over to the athletic trainer. Wasting no time, they inject my finger with shots of corticosteroid. It numbs everything to the point where I can’t even feel my fingers.

So I go back on the field and keep pitching like nothing’s wrong. At the time, I’m thinking that this is just what it takes to be tough. Yet, looking back on it years later, was that really the best solution: to mask the pain and toss me back out there?

There was probably a better way to do things, which is not just true in sports but in business as well. How often do entrepreneurs and CEOs mask burnout, overwhelm, and inefficiency instead of getting to the root of what’s really going on?

My special guest Dr. Jeremy Bettle has seen this phenomenon in sports and spent years developing systems to help high-performance athletes achieve world-class results and experience true vitality. Now, he's expanding these principles to everyone!

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll discover the link between an optimal health story full of vitality and lifestyle choices. Dr. Bettle will challenge the narrative of what we think health is and answer questions like:

How can you use your imagination to help you obtain a more optimal health story? What are the real health factors that indicate a long life story? And what’s an example of a success story that illustrates the transformative power of targeted training and mindset shifts?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the story of athletic training parallels the non-athletic world
• Why the biohacking trend is a distraction from the real health story
• How sleep impacts your brain (and, by extension, your entire body’s narrative)

Who is Jeremy?

Dr. Jeremy Bettle holds a PhD in Human Performance and is an internationally recognized expert in the field with nearly 20 years at the forefront of high-performance sports. Renowned as an innovator and disruptor, Jeremy developed world-class systems for athlete care and optimization that set new industry standards. Jeremy and his wife Michelle founded Vitality Collective in January 2024, where he now brings these cutting-edge principles to the broader field of longevity, helping individuals leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of optimal health and vitality.

Links and Resources

• Vitality Collective
• @vitalitycollectivemontecito on Instagram
• Vitality Collective on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in my martial arts class where we’re deep into advanced weapons training. On this day, our Grandmaster tells us that we’re going to have a special guest instructor join us. I’m thinking, “I’ve got the basics down with my knife. I’ve practiced them and know the foundation, so is this really going to be that different?”

Then Grandmaster Yarrow walks in and starts his workshop. Within minutes, he’s showing us knife techniques that I’ve never considered and didn’t even know were possible! Suddenly, everything I thought I knew about knife work feels limited.

A tension arises as I watch him demonstrate these unfamiliar techniques. Part of me wants to dismiss what I’m seeing, yet another part of me is intrigued and, to be honest, a little uncomfortable. Doubtful thoughts start to creep in. “Have I been doing this wrong all along? What if there’s much more I don’t know?”

This tug of war is happening inside me when something clicks. I start to realize that Grandmaster Yarrow is showing me a whole new world of possibilities. The real value isn’t just in the techniques he’s teaching us; it’s also in the reminder to keep an open mind and not limit your possibilities.

Sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs come in those moments when you’re willing to explore something new, maybe even something risky you’ve never tried before, and step outside of your usual way of doing things to discover hidden gifts and insights.

Similarly to those like Grandmaster Yarrow, my special guest today Lisa Franz has built a career helping people see new possibilities, insights, and stories from an external and internal perspective. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about finding freedom and personal transformation by embracing discomfort, breaking through limiting beliefs, and making mindful choices with food to increase self-awareness of your internal stories about eating and fitness. Lisa will also touch on the significance personal stories in connecting with others, as well as answer questions like:

How are transitions in certain areas like an unfolding of your life story? How can you break through internal stories about food and fitness that no longer serve you? And why do personal stories make relationships between coaches and clients more effective?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How finding freedom in food choices can help you shape your lifestyle story
• How your transformation can inspire others to change their story, too
• How slowing down can help take your internal food story to the next level

Who is Lisa?

Lisa Franz has a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science, Health Promotion, and Nutrition. She is the owner and head coach at Nutrition Coaching and Life and host of the Nutrition and Life Podcast. After struggling through various diets herself, she learned about evidence-based ways to change weight and body composition and has been fascinated with nutrition and building muscle ever since.

As a digital nomad (originally from Germany, currently residing in Colombia) and someone who loves to travel and explore (51 countries and counting), Lisa feels like the right knowledge when it comes to nutrition and training has provided her with strategies that allow her to live a life she enjoys in a body she loves. She aims to show and teach others that the same is possible for them, guiding them away from frustration about food and their bodies towards experiencing joy and contentment.

Links and Resources:

• Nutrition Coaching and Life
• Nutrition and Life Podcast
• @nutritioncoachingandlife on Instagram
• @nutritioncoachingandlife on YouTube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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A few years ago, I’m coaching a speaker for her first big keynote. We rehearse endlessly, tweaking every word and gesture. On the day of the event, I’m sitting in the audience feeling a mix of pride and nervousness for her.

She walks onto the stage confidently. Just as she starts her opening story, the microphone cuts out, and the room goes silent. All you can hear is the awkward shuffle of the tech team rushing around to fix it.

She freezes for a second, and I can see the panic in her eyes. She glances at me, and I give her a small nod; that’s our code for, “You’ve got this.”

After taking a deep breath, she raises her voice and speaks to the room. Without a working mic, she owns the silence and wins back the audience with confidence and a bit of humor.

The tech team gets the mic working halfway through her presentation, yet by this point, she already has the room in the palm of her hand. She ends her keynote and receives a standing ovation.

You don’t have to be flawless to be a great speaker. It’s how you handle the unexpected that makes you memorable which is a storytelling lesson everyone can learn.

In this installment of the “Storytelling 7 Series” on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how to find stories like these hiding out in the open. I’ll also answer questions like:

What do the biggest speeches, most viral videos, and most shared social media posts have in common? And where are stories hiding and waiting to be told?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why small, ordinary stories matter so much
• What questions to ask yourself to help uncover hidden stories
• What to do once you’ve found one story in plain sight to tell

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m on the East Coast about to speak at a corporate event filled with tech leaders of a very large company. As I’m backstage, the CEO comes up to me and says, “Remember Kymberlee, these are incredible people who are amazing at what they do, yet they aren’t really bought into the idea of storytelling in the business environment.”

With that, I’m introduced and take the stage. After the applause dies down, I can tell the mood in the room is quite serious. So I have everyone stand up and start an icebreaker exercise.

That’s when I hear the first person laugh. And then the next, and the next, and pretty soon the whole room is laughing, connecting, and having fun. The energy in the room has shifted.

At the end of the session, I ask them what some of their most memorable moments from the day are. Without skipping a beat, they pointed out the laughter during the icebreaker changed their internal story.

We know that laughter does a body and a brain good. Jason Love spreads that joy everywhere he goes. He’s a nationally touring standup comedian who has appeared on TV in a few places you may have heard of, like Comedy Central and HBO. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear his insights on connecting with diverse audiences in storytelling through devices like humor and lessons we can learn from comedic storytellers, as well as get answers to questions like:

How can you begin testing new material for a story, Talk, or performance? Why are people drawn to comedic storytellers like Dave Chappelle and Martin Lawrence? And what’s it like to navigate in the world currently as a comedic storyteller or performer?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What attitude you can take with you anytime you perform or tell a story
• How you can adapt your story or Talk to diverse audiences
• How you can be completely present before a story or Talk

Who is Jason?

Jason Love is a nationally touring headliner who has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, America’s Got Talent, and Dry Bar Comedy. His clips are played daily on Sirius XM, and he is a crowd favorite on cruise ships. L.A. Weekly named him “one of the top ten comics to watch.” His non-profit, Love & Laughter, brings free shows to the cancer support community, and he’s represented by Levity Entertainment and 800 Pound Gorilla.

Links and Resources

• Jason Love
• @jasonlovecomedy on Instagram
• @jasonlovecomedy on TikTok
• @jasonlovecomedy on Facebook
• Craig Shoemaker
• The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
• Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the early 2000s, and I’m between sessions at the TEDx conference. As I go to grab a coffee, I notice this crowd forming nearby. Naturally curious, I wander over there to see what the fuss is about.

In the middle of this crowd is a guy with a deck of cards doing a magic trick. But it’s not just the trick itself that’s amazing; it’s the effect it’s having on everyone around him. None of us can take our eyes off of him. It’s like we’re collectively holding our breath being caught in the moment as he performs trick after trick after trick.

Like everyone else around me, I’m completely captivated, marveling at what’s happening. “How does he do this?” I think to myself. I don’t know how one person with just a deck of cards can make an entire group of strangers feel so connected, so in awe together.

I realize at this point that it’s not all about the magic. It’s like this magician has created a shared experience of wonder for all of us and telling a story without even saying a single word.

He wraps up the show, the crowd disperses, and I go stand in line to get my coffee still buzzing from the experience. I turn to my husband Mark and ask, “Who is that guy?” Mark smiles and says, “That’s David Blaine.”

Wow, I was completely unaware that I’d been watching one of the most famous magicians in the world! Yet what sticks with me, even all these years later, isn’t just who he is; it’s that unforgettable feeling of awe he created for everyone in that moment.

So many magicians have that same capacity to captivate their audience. Rick Gerber is a professional magician who has been spending his entire life performing in multiple countries and every state in the U.S. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about how thinking like a magician can help you discover creative solutions that’ll create astonishing stories that linger in people’s minds. You’ll also get answers to questions such as:

In what ways can you creatively engage with your audience to enhance the storytelling experience? How can you get into the flow state as you perform your Talk or story? And how can embracing the unexpected lead to surprising discoveries that create unforgettable stories for your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How closely observing your audience for clues benefits your storytelling
• How you can captivate your audience with a shared experience at the very beginning
• Why you need to know your audience to set the right tone from the start

Who is Rick?

For over 40 years, Rick Gerber has been traveling the world creating laughter and gasps of astonishment at high-profile special events, trade shows, and as the headliner aboard some of the world’s most prestigious cruise ships. He has performed his incredible magic in all fifty states and over forty-five countries. Presidents, kings, and megastars in movies, TV, and music have witnessed firsthand his ability to distort reality before their watchful eyes.

Rick became the youngest performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood at 10 years old. At age 21, he was put under contract with Budweiser and performed for them full-time at trade shows and special VIP events around the globe for decades. Most recently, he was elected by his magician peers to the Board of Directors of the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts--home at the World-Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA.

Today, Rick’s Fortune 500 clients read like a Who’s Who of the corporate world--Monster Energy, T-Mobile, GE, Acura, DIRECTV, Coca-Cola, Dell Technologies, Nestlé, and hundreds of smaller businesses as well. Whether it's attracting crowds and gathering leads at trade shows, performing at special events, mingling in VIP hospitality suites, producing magic-themed events, or performing his stage show at corporate sales meetings for hundreds or thousands of attendees, companies can always count on him to deliver.

Links and Resources

• Rick Gerber
• @rickgerbermagic on LinkedIn
• @rickgerbermagic on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m helping my client Barbara get ready for one of the biggest Talks of her career. She’s preparing to stand on stage in front of thousands of people (with even more watching live online).

She shares her draft with me. It’s meticulous and packed with very specific, insightful information. Yet, there’s no sense of urgency or consequence. It’s just data, so I don’t feel anything.

I point this out to her gently, and I can sense her reluctance to dive deeper and reveal something personal, vulnerable even. However, I know her message won’t resonate with the audience if they can’t truly feel what’s on the line.

So I ask her, “Barbara, what’s at stake here? What will it mean for you, your team, or even your vision if this Talk goes well… or if it doesn’t?” She starts opening up and admits that this Talk is a critical moment for her in her business, leadership, and potentially her legacy.

That’s all I need to hear! With that information, I help her weave those stakes into her message through stories so that it gives the audience a reason to care and feel connected to her.

Fast forward to the moment when she steps up to the mic. The difference is undeniable! Not only does she deliver a polished speech; she’s sharing a story with everything on the line! I watch as the audience is drawn in, invested in her outcome, and hanging on every word… and all because she chose to add stakes.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of stakes in storytelling. I’ll dive into why stakes are the heartbeat of stories, three ways to categorize them, and how you can use them right away to transform your message. I’ll answer questions such as:

What is an example of a story with stakes versus one without? How can adding stakes bridge the gap between the story of the product or service you’re selling and the consumers you want to sell it to? And how do you add stakes to your story so that your audience feels a connection to you?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What stakes are in storytelling and why they matter
• How to identify and amplify stakes in your stories
• How to get others to care about your story’s outcome through stakes

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It's time for my first theatrical performance. I've memorized my lines and have been rehearsing relentlessly. I am ready to go.

As I'm standing backstage, I suddenly notice my leg is shaking. And then I feel sweat dripping down my back. Oh. And my breathing is really rapid. I think to myself, how can I possibly be this nervous? I've done all the work. I've prepared like crazy. I'm hitting all my cues. Why am I feeling this way?

And at that moment, I realize this is actually a familiar feeling. I felt this way as an athlete just before leaving the dugout to hit the softball mound. I felt this way as a speaker just before leaving the safety of my curtain backstage and stepping into the spotlight. This feeling that I'm feeling actually just means I care.

I want to do well. I wanna do well for the audience. And it's with this realization that I notice the shaking has actually stopped and my breathing is almost back to normal.

All of a sudden, the curtain opens and off I go. And that first performance becomes a huge success and sets me up on the path for many, many more theatrical experiences to follow.

And speaking of theatrical experiences, my special guest today, Luis Moro, knows all about being on all different sides of the curtain. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how comedy can play a transformative role in our lives, why comedy isn’t just for entertainment, and much more. Luis will also answer questions like:

How can you make sure your audience walks away changed or uplifted? How can comedy be a tool for both personal empowerment and human connection? And why is it important to tailor your performances to meet your audience’s needs?

What you will learn in this episode:

• The importance of versatility and how different roles within the theater (and life!) can enhance each other
• How authentic comedy can be a catalyst for personal change and empowerment
• The significance of adapting stories to connect with diverse audiences
• Why willingness to alter one's approach or story is crucial in any creative endeavor

Who is Luis? Luis Moro is a dynamic storyteller and comedian known for his multifaceted approach to the arts and life. He has embraced a diverse range of roles, from acting and writing to producing and performing, which has enriched his ability to connect with audiences across different platforms. He is particularly noted for his ability to infuse comedy with meaningful insights that resonate with audiences on a deeper level. Luis believes in authenticity and self-reflection, believing in storytelling and its power to change and impact lives. Through his work, he aims to provoke thought and ignite transformation, using his comedic talents not just to entertain but to enlighten. Moreover, as a devoted father, Luis leverages his personal experiences to impart wisdom and raise awareness about the importance of one's word and personal integrity, both in everyday life and on stage.

Links and Resources

• Luis Moro
• @aluismoro on Instagram
• @LuisMoro on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the third night of a very intense survival training course with a Green Beret guy. I haven’t slept or showered. I’m muddy and exhausted and just want to go home to Santa Barbara. I tell myself I just need to make it through one more night and this will all be behind me.

When it’s time to call it a night, I am given a choice: I can either sleep in my tent or in this lean-to I’ve built. The lean-to is essentially a hole in the dirt with some twigs on it. At this moment, I’d love nothing more than to be at a resort, yet I remind myself I came to this insane training for a challenge.

So I say, “Fine. I’ll sleep in this lean-to.” I trek down the road around the bend and shimmy myself into this little hole in the dirt. I can’t even see the base camp anymore.

I can hear every sound around me as I lay there, and I realize that I’ve never been alone like this before. But hey, it’s fine!

“I’m fine; in just hours, I can go home,” I think to myself.

Then, after slightly dozing off, I wake up to this crunching sound just off in the distance. It’s coming towards me, and I keep telling myself everything’s fine. Then the crunch gets louder and faster until, in the moonlight, I see it: the tusk of a wild boar!?!

I lie there, frozen and deciding whether or not to scream, when I remember something: animals sense fear. So I need to be strong, be still, be silent, and stick this out.

While it’s rooting around my head, something suddenly distracts it, and it runs off into the forest. And when morning arrives, I get out of the lean-to, go back to camp, and announce I survived.

The Green Beret guy says, “Yeah. Good job Kymberlee.”

Here’s the deal: I am committed to affecting change in our world. With change comes challenges. With challenges comes fear. That means that different levels of fear are always coming up for me. What this unforgettable experience has taught me is that we must cultivate your courage. And when I think of courage, I can’t help but think of that Green Beret guy who has become a dear friend. His name is Retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann. Scott is with us today in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast to discuss the transformative power of thematic stories of survival and courage and answer questions like:

What is the significance of storytelling leadership roles? What do personal stories that resonate with others have in common? And why is your delivery of a story as important as its content?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How storytelling can help you cultivate courage and de-escalate fear
• What kind of questions lead to powerful stories that can bridge divisions
• What three storytelling myths cause you to avoid telling your stories

Who is Scott?

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world including Colombia, Peru, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller and the founder of Rooftop Leadership, where he shares the rapport-building and storytelling skills he learned in Special Forces to help today's leaders make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust engagements.

Scott is the author of the instant New York Times Best-Seller, Operation Pineapple Express, a third-person narrative detailing the harrowing stories of the veterans, volunteers, and Afghan allies who navigated the U.S. abandonment of Afghanistan in August of 2021. The Gary Sinise Foundation partnered up with Scott to bring his play, Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, to stages across the country to provide healing for our veterans and families of the fallen, as well as provide insight for our citizens on the personal cost of the longest war in our nation’s history.

Links and Resources

• Scott Mann
• Scott Mann’s Patreon
• @ScottManAuthor on Facebook
• @scottmannauthor on Instagram
• @davidscottmann on LinkedIn
• @TheScottMannChannel on YouTube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m coaching multiple speakers for an upcoming TEDx event. During the kickoff meeting with one particular speaker, I ask him, “Okay, what’s your idea worth spreading?” He replies, “Kymberlee, that’s easy. I’m going to talk about the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.”

I think, “Wait, what? If this is what you’re focusing on for your TEDx Talk, we definitely need to make 30-year fixed-rate mortgages interesting and shift the audience’s perspective because this isn’t a very sexy topic.”

So I ask him, “All right. What’s your earliest memory related to money?” He tells me, “Well, when I was little, I used to go door-to-door selling acacia flowers. That’s when I first realized that people would exchange dollars for something they value.”

I stop him right there and say, “That’s the story we need to tell. It’s how the audience will connect with you.” Once an audience cares about you, you’ve earned the right to teach them about what you care about.

So he delivers his TEDx Talk and opens with his acacia flower story. Last week, his Talk hit one million views! And perhaps many of those viewers’ perspectives on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have changed as a result.

Speaking of which, my guest Josh Lowman changes the public's point of view often and affects change with every organization and brand he works with. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of multiple story viewpoints, the price of admission in storytelling to create a deeper connection with your audience, and more. Josh will also answer questions such as:

How can you think about point-of-view in story in a different way? What effect does authentic vulnerability in storytelling have on a platform where that’s not typically expressed (like LinkedIn)? And why is change an essential element for stories?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why switching point-of-view is a powerful tool in capturing your audience’s attention
• What admission price in storytelling is necessary to grow and resonate with an audience
• How you can become a much better writer and improve your storytelling sentence-by-sentence

Who is Josh?

Josh Lowman is the founder and CEO of Gold Front, a category design studio based in San Francisco, California. He has worked with more than 40 C-suite executives and teams to create new categories and market them to their customers. He believes that category design and creation provide the path for business owners and CEOs to cut through the noise and reach their audience.

Links and Resources:

• Gold Front
• @joshlowman on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m running a high-energy speaker training event, and everyone is buzzing with excitement as we stand in a circle, introducing ourselves. Each attendee shares their role and a fun fact. Among them is a CEO of a tech company who loves bagels, a marketing director obsessed with villas in Rome, and an entrepreneur who just secured his first round of funding.

The introductions continue, one after another, until it’s time for my team to introduce themselves. Our first team member steps forward and says, “Hi, I’m Sandy Zabarsky. I’ve spent the last 27 years in prison and just got out.”

The room falls silent. I can feel the weight of all eyes on me, then shifting to each other, and back to me.

Sandy continues, “I served as an educator and administrator in juvenile halls and juvenile camps. Today, I’m here to help turn your challenges into stories your audience will never forget.”

A collective breath is released from the room. You see, Sandy happens to be my mom. She was an English major and dedicated her career to helping the underdog–particularly disadvantaged youth entangled in the criminal justice system. She assisted these kids in earning their GED, offering them a glimmer of hope and a chance at a different story.

Throughout her career, my mom impacted the lives of thousands of kids. Her unwavering commitment to changing their narrative and giving them a new possibility transformed their futures, making them very different from the ones they had while inside the system.

There are so many like my mom out there, including my special guest Alfonso Paz. He brings to life a different possibility for the people he works with whether they’re students, educators, or business owners. And through his company Vibix Learning, he is transforming education by helping to create healthier, more inclusive school environments.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of storytelling in education, business, and personal growth. Alfonso will share his experience of using storytelling to pitch to investors and the impact its made, discuss the effectiveness of short-form storytelling, and so much more. He’ll also answer questions such as:

How does storytelling help bridge emotional gaps and foster compassion? Why is short-form storytelling particularly effective in high-stakes environments? And why is the struggle such an essential part of the storytelling process?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How storytelling creates deeper connections and fosters compassion that spurs action
• Why concise stories effectively convey messages to engage audiences
• How storytelling can be used to help enhance emotional intelligence

Who is Alfonso?

For close to 30 years, Alfonso Paz has been helping underrepresented students and families in Los Angeles’s East Hollywood area have greater opportunities and access to college and other post-secondary options. He is the co-founder and CEO of Vibix Learning, which transforms education by enhancing emotional well-being through its innovative Collective Care Continuum (C3) model, integrating emotional intelligence and mental wellness support to create healthier, more inclusive school environments.

Alfonso’s experiences have solidified his belief that it does take an entire village to raise a child to be a successful contributing member of society. He believes that while traditional schools can provide a foundation for positive change, the strong partnerships between families, schools, and communities will provide a greater influence on a student's life and prepare them to contribute to a united, stronger, and healthier society.

Through Vibix Learning, he recognized that the greatest effect he could have would be to "re-teach" educators how to listen to the students and staff, recognize everyone’s needs, and define the best way forward for each student and staff member. Once schools and administrators saw his methods' incredible effect on the student's lives–both in and out of the school environment–he became a sought-after coach and advisor.

Links and Resources:

• Vibix Learning
• PazLo Education Foundation
• @alfonsopaz-vibix on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My husband and I are driving to the airport for a family reunion when we both get pings on our phones. There’s a global outage. We check our tickets and plane reservations–they’re all fine. We head to the airport, and everything seems okay. The airline confirms our flight is on time, so we’re good to go.

An hour later, we get a delay, yet they assure us everything will be fine. Another hour passes and there’s another delay. They tell us again that we’ll make our connecting flight, and everything will be okay. Finally, we board the plane. It takes off and lands at LAX, where we discover we’ve missed our connecting flight. They promise us they’ll put us on another one.

My dad is texting, worried about the global outage. I reassure him that we’re fine and on the next flight…except that flight gets canceled, too, as does the next one. Around us, people are angry, yelling into their phones, and sleeping on the floor. Others are shouting at the airline staff who can’t do much about the situation.

At this point, I turn to my husband and ask, “What if this were fun?”

From that moment, we strive to make it fun. We start trekking through five terminals until we find the AmEx Lounge. We get playful and interact with people in character, indulge in some childhood comfort food of grilled cheese, and end up laughing and having a great time.

Fifteen hours later, with the global outage continuing, we return home having never reached our destination. However, we chose to make the experience fun when everyone else seemed to be falling apart.

My special guest, Sebastian Conelli, is an incredible actor, comedian, improviser who knows a thing or two about having fun. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of choosing to have fun and be playful, even in challenging situations. You’ll also discover how to create connections with your audience, the value of being vulnerable and sharing one's inner thoughts and feelings in storytelling, and get answers to questions like:

How can awareness and being present in the moment enhance the impact of a story or performance? What are some specific ways in which Improv can enhance public speaking and personal confidence? And what techniques can you use to ensure that an audience connects with unusual or unexpected behaviors in a story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How your approach to a situation can transform the story of your experience
• How Improv helps you stay grounded and make stories more impactful and authentic
• How personal challenges and experiences can be transformed into compelling narratives

Who is Sebastian?

Sebastian Conelli is an actor, comedian and improviser from New York. Sebastian has been performing and teaching improv for over 13 years. Sebastian is a part of the legendary improv team The Stepfathers (UCB), the best improv show in NY Raaaatscraps, and is a cast member of the longest-running improv show in NY, Asssssscat (UCB). Sebastian is the host of the successful podcast LOUD ABOUT NOTHING. You also might have seen Sebastian doing small parts on Max, Apple TV, Netflix, and in the 2024 Palme D'or winner Anora.

Links and Resources

• @sebastianconelli on Instagram
• Loud About Nothing
• RaaaatScraps
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m working with a new client, Leonard, who is completely new to first-person true storytelling. He has lived through several unbelievable situations, and I know others need to hear his stories.

So I challenge him to tell a story to open his next podcast. He responds: “I can’t do that. My listenership will drop if I do.” When I ask him why, he says, “No one’s going to care about my story.”

Yet, what if only one person needs to hear your story to change their life? After I pose that question to Leonard, he reluctantly agrees and shares one of his craziest stories on his next episode.

The response? Several listeners emailed him saying things like:

“Your story was exactly what I needed to hear today.”

“Your story reminded me of a similar situation I went through.”

“Your story has given me the courage to tell my story.”

We tell our stories in service to others, and it takes bravery to be vulnerable with your story. Leonard did it, as did my guest today, Krishnni Khanna. She has told her real raw story on both the TEDx stage and in her newly released book, simply because she wants to help others.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the importance of sharing difficult stories as a way to process experiences and help others feel less alone. Krishnni will share her story of ostracization as a young girl who migrated to the U.S., as well as answer questions such as:

What can happen as a result of sharing your vulnerable story? Why are the words you use in your Talk or story so important? And what’s a really powerful way to end a speech or story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why personal stories serve as powerful hooks for your speech
• How to use words and visual descriptions to enhance your stories
• How to instill inspiration and motivation in others through your raw stories

Who is Krishnni?

Krishnni Khanna was born in India in 2007 and moved to the United States with her parents in 2017. She’s a high schooler, author, and TEDx speaker who advocates for the inner well-being of youth. In 2022, she created Detoximind (www.detoximind.com), a student-led movement through which Krishnni and her team bring peer-based support to teens and youth grappling with stress, shame, exclusion and isolation. She currently resides in Austin, Texas with her parents and their puppy Yuki.

Krishnni’s first novel I AM NOT WHO YOU SEE launched in June 2024. Many of the protagonist’s experiences in the book are inspired by Krishnni’s highs and lows as a 10-year-old immigrant in America, and how she rebuilt her sense of self and regained her identity in her new surroundings.

Links and Resources

• Krishnni Khanna
• I AM NOT WHO YOU SEE by Krishnni Khanna
• “How Does a Lie Become True?” | Krishnni Khanna | TEDxYoungstown
• @krishnni-khanna on LinkedIn
• @krishnnikhanna on Instagram
• Detoximind
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It's 2017, and I'm meeting with our TEDxSantaBarbara team, preparing to plan our next year's TEDx event. As we start discussing the hundreds of speaker applications we've received, it feels incredibly hard to narrow down our selections with so many wonderful candidates. That's when it hits me.

What if we focus on the idea first and the person second? In other words, what if we identify the most important and urgent ideas we want to cover and then consider all the applications, recommendations, and research to find the strongest person with subject matter expertise in that area?

Our team loves this approach, and we immediately engage in healthy dialogue, even debate, about which ideas our world and our community need the most right now. One of the ideas that rises to the top of the list unanimously is human trafficking.

Fast forward many months later, the speaker we choose delivers an incredible Talk, not only highlighting the issue of human trafficking but also discussing actionable solutions. And now her TEDxSantaBarbara Talk has earned over 400,000 views and counting. This means more than just a number; it signifies that by sharing her Idea Worth Spreading, she has initiated change on a global scale. This means change in awareness, change in mindset, and change in action.

My special guest today is that very same speaker. Megan Rheinschild is Director of the Victim Assistance Program at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and directs the Countywide Sexual Assault Response Team, which provides medical-legal forensic exams and advocacy to survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual assault. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we’ll explore the issue of human trafficking and the power of storytelling in raising awareness and creating change and get answers to questions such as:

What are some common misconceptions of human trafficking? How can storytelling foster empathy and understanding? And what can the average person do to make a difference?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How human trafficking can occur in any community or city
• Why it’s difficult to break free from exploitation when trafficking victims form a bond with their traffickers
• How storytelling is a powerful tool in raising awareness and creating empathy
• How we can make a difference by providing love, acceptance, and support to vulnerable individuals

Who is Megan?

Megan Rheinschild serves as the Director of the Victim Assistance Program at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office. In this role, she oversees a countywide initiative that delivers comprehensive services, support, and advocacy for victims of violent crime and their families.

Ms. Rheinschild has been instrumental in forming the Human Trafficking Victim Advocacy Program and establishing the multi-agency Countywide Human Trafficking Task Force in 2013. This task force aims to identify and investigate human trafficking cases and address the complex needs of survivors through collaborative efforts with local, regional, and state partners.

Additionally, she directs the Countywide Sexual Assault Response Team, a partnership involving Law Enforcement, Public Health, Rape Crisis Centers, and Child Welfare Services. This team provides medical-legal forensic exams and advocacy to survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual assault.

Links and Resources

• Megan Rheinschild: Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
• The Face of Human Trafficking | Megan Rheinschild TEDx Santa Barbara
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m on stage performing at Santa Barbara Improv. My scene partner and I are playing a game of He Said, She Said which goes like this: After every line of dialogue from one person, their scene partner will then narrate something physical for them to do.

For instance, let’s say that I say to my scene partner, “I’m so angry at you right now.” My partner then narrates something like, “She said while jumping up and down on one foot.” And I actually have to do the thing.

So we’re in the middle of a mob scene digging a hole, and my partner says, “She says while taking a cigar out of her back pocket and lighting it.”

Being a dedicated athlete my whole life, I never learned how to light a cigar. So when I pretend to do it, I fumble around with it which causes the audience to lose it so much that my scene partner keeps on narrating me lighting cigars.

Pretty soon, I’m losing it too, almost crying because I’m trying to hold in my laughter so much. It turned into a delightful disaster on stage, yet one that ends up being one of my funniest bits.

My special guest today can certainly relate. Polo Reo Tate is a comedian herself as well as an author, actress, keynote speaker, philanthropist, podcaster, and so much more. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear how she champions authenticity and resiliency through storytelling and beyond and get answers to questions such as:

Why do you have an innate Improv storytelling ability? How do the rules of Improv storytelling mirror the rules of life? How does reconciling within yourself the low points of your life impact your power as a speaker and storyteller? And what role does your physicality play in enhancing your stories?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you have to get your story on paper, even if you never share it
• How you can get unusual story inspiration from mundane situations
• How craft and intuition interconnect when preparing and giving a presentation

Who is Polo?

As an author by soul, actor by trade, artist at heart, and uplifter to the core of her being, Polo Reo Tate redefines what it means to be a Renaissance Woman. From a myriad of life experiences, she intimately understands the transformational value in mindfully getting to know ourselves wholly and love ourselves unconditionally in order to live fully in the freedom of our own authenticity. Her supreme love for people, and the clarity with which she sees and celebrates the superpowers of those around her, allows her to help elevate the energy of any relationship or situation brought forth by a client.

Whether she is in front of a camera, a crowd, or the company of one, Polo revels in the kinetic web of creativity that is born from every interaction, every co-creation. She lives each moment to the fullest, lets no one take her joy, and avidly operates from the belief that we can do anything upon which we set our minds, hearts, and spirits. She welcomes and invites you to embrace your own infinite possibility, embody the loving being that you are, and feel the power and the pleasure of being fully present in your own life.

Links and Resources

• Polo Reo Tate
• Books by Polo Tate
• “How to find Comedy, Joy, and Fulfillment in Life” | Polo Reo Tate | TEDxYoungstown
• @ThePoloREOTateChannel on Youtube
• Soulgasm podcast
• @PoloReoTate on Facebook
• @polot8 on X/Twitter
• @poloreotate on Instagram
• @poloreotate on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“Kymberlee, how are you always able to take questions and turn them into storytelling opportunities?”

That’s the question my client Claire asks me as we’re getting her ready for a big keynote presentation. As I’m quickly thinking about how to answer her, I realize that I mostly do it unconsciously. Yet I know that’s not really a helpful answer, so I replay in my mind the times I’ve recently turned a question into a story.

Then it hits me: I’ve been building bridges from questions asked to times in my life that are in some way related to the questions… during handshake moments.

So I explain my thought process to Claire who, during our next coaching sessions, reports that she’s been binging on my technique to great fun and success. She feels like every time she turns a question into a storytelling opportunity, her connection with that other person goes deeper faster.

In this installment of the “Storytelling 7 Series” on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how you can turn questions into storytelling opportunities, too. I’ll also answer questions like:

How can you understand the concept of a handshake as it relates to questions and storytelling? What practical tips can help you improve your storytelling skills with the Handshake Technique? And how do you make your story responses more engaging and relatable using this technique?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to connect questions to stories using the Handshake Technique
• How to hone your storytelling skills by classifying and building story arsenals
• How to make storytelling through this technique more natural and effective

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It feels like I’m flying all the time while running my software company. Every month, I’m going somewhere to meet clients.

It’s standard practice until, out of nowhere, I have my first anxiety attack.

These attacks become serious and start happening randomly on different days at different times of the day. Weeks and months go by, and every single time I step on the plane, an attack triggers.

While I’ve been flying on planes my entire life, I find myself having to take medication just to step on to an aircraft.

As I’m searching everywhere looking for answers to get to the bottom of what’s going on, I meet with a therapist, Dr. Keith.

He asks me a simple question:

“Kymberlee, do you think pilots have a fear of flying?”

Sounds like a preposterous question, right? So I respond: “Of course not!”

Then he advises me to ask the pilot on my next flight what their favorite thing is about flying. I do exactly that.

With my heart racing, I board my next flight and ask if I can say a quick hello to the pilot. As I’m having a conversation in the cockpit with this pilot, I quickly learn that his favorite part is the landings.

Suddenly, I go from having heart palpitations to laughing and smiling and learning so much about the craft of flying. In the months (and flights) that follow my perspective on flying changes so much that eventually I don’t even need to take the medication anymore.

His story changes my story.

Speaking of aviation and stories, my special guest, Reyné O'Shaughnessy, is a retired commercial airline pilot and captain with intimate knowledge of mental health. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about the importance of changing the story within the aviation world (and beyond) as it relates to mental health, as well as get answers to questions like:

How does the story within the aviation industry regarding changes in mental wellness policy need shifting? And why is it so important to share your stories publicly in the world?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the collective mental health story in aviation needs to change
• How we can adopt a better story through shared responsibility
• How to prevent your mental health from turning into a story of mental illness

Who is Reyné?

Captain (ret.) Reyné O'Shaughnessy stands as a prominent figure within the aviation industry for her unwavering dedication to both pilots and the aviation industry. With a remarkable 35-year career as a commercial airline pilot, she has accumulated a vast reservoir of experience, expertise, and proficiency with flight time exceeding 10,000 hours on heavy jet aircraft.

Beyond the cockpit, Captain O'Shaughnessy has devoted over a decade to honing her skills as an aviation strategist, with a specific focus on health and mental wellness. Her dedication led her to become a certified practitioner in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from Brown University. She founded Piloting 2 Wellbeing and co-founded The Aviation Health and Wellbeing Institute, and her holistic approach to aviation has solidified her position as a trailblazer and influencer within the industry.

In addition, Captain O'Shaughnessy is the author of the best-selling book, This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot's Mental Health. Her insights have been featured on reputable platforms such as Fox News, NBC News, CBS/KDKA, and AOPA, and she is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide.

Links and Resources

• Captain Reyné O
• Piloting 2 Wellbeing
• The Aviation Health and Wellbeing Institute
• This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot’s Mental Health by Reyné O'Shaughnessy
• @captain_reyneo on Instagram
• @piloting2wellbeing on Twitter/X
• @piloting2wellbeing on Facebook
• @piloting2wellbeing on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“What’s the difference between the brands everyone talks about and the ones we can’t remember?” That’s the question that me and my colleague Glenn are pondering over coffee this week.

He expresses surprise at the over $1 billion valuation of the brand Liquid Death. “They sell water in a can. It’s just water,” he tells me.

Yet their success doesn’t surprise me because they sell it in a cool can (with a cool slogan) and have a unique, edgy, unforgettable story their fans love to tell and show off. It’s not just about what you sell; it’s also about the stories you tell regarding your products, services, and brand.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how some of the world’s most iconic and successful brands use storytelling to captivate, engage, and build connections with their audience. In the process, you’ll discover why you need to tell stories to build your brand, too, and get answers to questions like:

What are the keys to using stories for captivating, engaging, and building relationships with your brand’s customers or clients? What are some practical strategies you can use for brand building with storytelling? How can you measure the impact of your storytelling on your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories create a powerful emotional connection and lasting memory for your brand
• How to use story to humanize your brand, share its values and mission, and build an engaging community around it
• How to leverage different platforms for and measure the impact of effective brand storytelling

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in prep mode, getting ready to host a standup comedy night. I ask myself:

“What’s it going to take to move this event from good to unforgettable?

Sure people are coming to see comedians who they love and may have been following for years… What can we do to make this experience last and earn a permanent memory in every audience member’s mind? What can we do to make this experience last and earn a permanent memory in every single audience member’s mind?”

The answer? It’s all in the details. From eye contact and smiles, to the welcoming and fun atmosphere being directed at each guest from every angle–box office volunteers and snack bar workers, old-time comedy posters and fresh flowers… even the cleanliness of the theater plays a subtle and important role.

In other words, it’s in making this entire evening feel like every single detail matters and producing an unforgettable experience in the process.

My special guests today, Mo Barrett & Katy Stevens, have made creating unforgettable experiences into an entire business. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, they’ll share how the monotonous and mundane can be disrupted and generate stories that entertain and empower, as well as answer questions such as:

How can seeing and appreciating the stories of others deepen your understanding and connection? What effect does allowing your mind to rest have on your story creation and productivity? And how can taking an unconventional approach with your story or Talk produce an experience for your audience that only you can deliver?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you need to trust the story your body is trying to write for you
• How the mundane can make for better stories than grandiose events
• How you can generate creative story ideas and reconnect with forgotten stories

Who are Mo & Katy?

Mo Barrett & Katy Stevens are unlikely best friends from two separate worlds who collided at a barbershop brigade singing event. Mo is a retired Air Force Colonel turned public speaker, and Katy is a music and performance instructor turned Mo-wrangler. Together they take stages as corporate entertainers and educators.

Despite all the ways they’re different, they choose to lean into the strength of the things they have in common, recognizing, acknowledging, appreciating and leveraging their respective quirks. Together Mo & Katy disrupt monotony and are building a world filled with unforgettable experiences that entertain and empower by using humor in unexpected ways.

Links and Resources

• Unforgettable Experiences
• Email: moandkatyshow@gmail.com
• Google Maps: Unforgettable Experiences with Mo & Katy
• “How to be Unforgettable” TEDx Talk
• Unforgettable Experiences with Mo and Katy podcast
• @YourUnforgettableExperiences on Facebook
• @yourunforgettableexperiences on Instagram #tmks #disruptmonotony #hardatquirk #unforgettableexperiences
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Whenever we do a new TEDx event, our first order of business is finding the theme to get everything flowing. It influences everything we do, from the set design to invited speakers and so much more.

So as we come up with theme ideas for our Santa Barbara TEDx event in 2019, nothing is really clicking.

We try phrases, single words, even full sentences and they all fall short. The theme candidates feel very generic and unexciting.

Then, it hits me: What if we take a deeper look at the role of stories through three different lenses: stories we tell, stories told to us, and stories we tell ourselves?

The team loves it! We finally have our theme, and it sets in motion our lense through which to look through for all our decision-making. And… our TEDx event ends up to be a huge success that year!

No speaking of stories, my incredible guest today, Brandy Gillmore, uses all three of those storytelling lenses in her life’s work. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about her healing journey from an accident in 2003 and what she discovered about the crucial role of stories in mind-body healing. You’ll also get answers to questions like:

What are misconceptions in stories about mind-body healing? What is the story connection between our subconscious mind, emotions, and physical health? How can transforming stories you tell yourself lead to life-changing results?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories you tell yourself can affect your physical health
• How understanding the stories you tell yourself can propel you forward or hold you back
• How stories can help you gain clarity and motivation

Who is Brandy?

Brandy Gillmore is a researcher, author, and mind-body expert. Spurred on by a debilitating injury from an accident in 2003 that left her disabled, in excruciating pain, and without hope for recovery, she began researching for a cure and discovered obscure research that changed the course of her life and resulted in a complete recovery. Now, she shares this research in her book Master Your Mind and Energy to Heal Your Body, which showcases our power to radically heal our bodies using only our minds.

Thanks to her groundbreaking discovery, Brandy has been featured in prestigious medical journals, on notable platforms (such as the Shift Network), and in several documentaries and docuseries including Women’s Health Secrets, Thrive Global, Harper’s Bazaar Brazil, Pain Revealed, and more! She’s also been praised by medical professionals, health and wellness luminaries, global leaders, Hollywood celebrities, corporate tycoons, and people from all walks of life who’ve been captivated by her remarkable insights and results from her work.

Links and Resources

• Brandy Gillmore
• Brandy’s TEDx Talk: “Could This Be the Missing Link to Your Health?”
• Master Your Mind and Energy to Heal Your Body by Brandy Gillmore
• Heal Yourself. Change Your Life podcast
• See Live Healing on Brandy’s website
• @brandy.gillmore on Facebook
• @brandygillmore on Instagram
• @BrandyGillmore on Twitter/X
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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As a kid growing up, I get to spend time with two families. On one side is my mom and stepdad, and on the other is my dad and stepmom. Being the only child in both families, I spend holidays at one house and then the other. Trick or treating on Halloween with one family earlier in the evening and the other later in the evening. I even have two different celebrations on my birthday.

Everything is separate...until 2010 when I decide to run a TEDx event for the first time and realize quickly that I need help. So Mom, an English major, offers to help with speakers. My stepmom helps with overseeing and running registration and volunteers. My stepdad has experience with stage managing and works with me behind the stage with the tech team and speakers. And Dad helps with all onsite needs including fine-tuning the sets and becomes our X-factor.

While my two families have very different values, beliefs, and even rules, they do have one thing in common: they have tremendous love to give and they come together civilly for a collective cause that is bigger than any one of us individually. They volunteer at our TEDx event to help change the world through spreading ideas.

Now my special guest today, Joe Weston, teaches people how to not only be civil to each other but fiercely so in order to influence what happens next in their stories.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about why we get caught in a repetitive story of arguing and fighting with others. You’ll also discover keys to creating stories of mutual empowerment between people and get answers to questions like:

How are power dynamics at the core of stories that fuel fights? What has helped create a universal mindset that helps facilitate arguments? What’s an example of how a challenging life story can positively impact others? And how can the process of working on your first TEDx Talk change the story you tell yourself about public speaking?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What influences the argumentative stories we tell ourselves and each other
• What kind of exercise can help you transition from story to training in your Talk or presentation
• Why simply writing the ideal Talk isn’t enough for a good presentation

Who is Joe?

Joe Weston is an international thought leader, lecturer, author, consultant, coach, trainer, and advocate for lasting peace. Born in Queens, NY and raised in a volatile, argumentative environment, he was determined to understand the roots of conflict and find another way to safely address problems. So he went on a worldwide quest and studied diverse traditions such as various martial art forms, meditation, contemplative practices, neuroscience, communication models, and more.

Eventually, Joe ended up living in the Netherlands for 18 years where he expanded his vision of human solidarity that transcended nationality, race, religion, political ideology, and economic status and led to creating programs in the U.S., Europe, and some of the most conflict-ridden regions in the world. His career as a conflict prevention specialist spans over 30 years, and he’s a highly sought-after facilitator for individuals, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits worldwide.

Links and Resources

• Joe Weston
• Joe’s TEDx Talk: “Say Goodbye to Chronic Niceness”
• Fierce Civility and Mastering Respectful Confrontation books by Joe Weston
• @joewestonauthor on Facebook
• @fiercecivility on Instagram
• Joe Weston on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m ready to dazzle! I have on my heels, my dress, and my glitter as I enter the doors of Blaisdell Arena and make my way to my seat near the front row. I can feel my heart racing with anticipation.

Then, the lights go out. The fog on stage gets thicker. The familiar beat begins, and it’s as if my heart starts to beat with it in unison.

Suddenly, the backup singers take their places on the stage. And through the haze, I finally see him. As he comes into focus, there’s cheering, and screaming, and some nearby me are even crying. We’re all so excited to see what we’ve been looking forward to for months: Prince performing live on stage, in person, in living color!

At that moment, we’re all in the middle of this story happening around us. Years later, I can recall where I sat, what I thought, and who I was with that evening. That’s what a powerful experience that earns a permanent place in the memory can do.

Starting from his days as a civil engineering student, my special guest Adam Metwally is all about creating experiences for others using a combination of his various interests, knowledge, and experience. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear how he emphasizes the power of creating memorable experiences, his tips on building genuine confidence and its role in storytelling, and so much more! You’ll also get answers to questions like:

How do you build trust and connection as an interviewer of those who want to share stories? How can better understanding your influence affect the story of others and, in turn, impact your own? And why is genuine authenticity essential for effective storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to bring out and develop the story within an event
• What the keys are to getting good stories out of other people
• How to build genuine confidence and why it is key to authenticity

Who is Adam?

Adam Metwally loves to connect and riff with intelligent and interesting people to expand his insight, perspective, and knowledge. He reads voraciously and has an unending curiosity about the world around him. Politely persistent but extremely extroverted, his interests include business psychology, mindset, finance, music, spirituality, and sports like yoga, snowboarding, running, and basketball.

With deep curiosity and an environment that fosters growth through impactful projects, Adam aims to take the wide variety of intersecting and specific knowledge he’s developed over the last decade to learn quickly and contribute world-class ideas to organizations. He then uses his organizational skills, persistence, and focus to push those ideas into outcomes.

Links and Resources

• Adam Metwally
• The One Time Podcast:
  • Apple | Spotify
• @meetwally on Instagram
• @adammetwally on LinkedIn
• @adam.metwally on Facebook
• @metwally on TikTok
• @ManTalks on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m on a Zoom call rehearsing with a group of speakers who are getting ready for an upcoming TEDx event. Yet something’s off.

After finishing her run, one speaker admits, “I don’t really feel like I’m connected.”

And that’s when I realize something. She’s scanning the room and not really seeing anyone. It’s like she’s talking into the void.

So I say, “Try focusing on one person at a time, like you’re talking directly to that particular person. Then focus on the next person, and then the next.”

I have everybody take a turn at this. They’re hesitant at first. Yet over the next few weeks, they start making genuine connections with their audience even though it’s through the screen.

It’s incredible to see and just another powerful reminder of the magic of eye contact. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we continue our Storytelling Seven series where you’ll learn why mastering eye contact is such a crucial element in storytelling and public speaking. In the process, you’ll also find out:

Why can eye contact make or break your presentation? What specific considerations should you keep in mind for eye contact in virtual presentations? And how can you practice making eye contact in your speech or story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How eye contact helps you as the speaker or storyteller
• How eye contact serves as a bridge between you and your audience
• How to overcome the challenges of mastering eye contact

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

View Details

I’m standing backstage with my dad in a room full of speakers who are getting ready to make their TEDx debuts. We’ve been working for over eight months for this moment, yet the nervous energy in the room is palpable.

So Greg, the event organizer, takes the microphone and gives a short, inspirational talk. Then he stops, walks over to my dad and hands him the microphone.

Dad clears his throat and says, “What did the fish say when it ran into the wall?” And that joke breaks open a dam of levity that helps take the energy from trepidation to confidence and readiness for the stage.

Humor can be a game-changer. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how humor affects stories, the different types of humor you can deploy, how you can play with humor to find what works for you and your audience, and the pitfalls you need to avoid when using it as a device. In the process, you’ll get answers to questions such as:

Why is humor so effective in storytelling and speaking? How do you choose a style of humor and start experimenting with it? And what can go wrong when using humor in your stories and speeches?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What types of humor you can deploy in speaking and storytelling
• How to integrate and experiment with humor to find what fits best
• What not to do with humor in your speeches and stories

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago taking a week-long intensive Improv class. In the middle of a scene with my scene partner, I have this brilliant idea. So I start forcing the scene in the direction I have in mind.

My partner follows along…and the whole scene ends up being pretty flat and predictable. After we’re done, the instructor says, “Kymberlee, I have a note for you. Allow yourself to be surprised on stage rather than in control.”

What if we apply the same principle to our presentations? How would that change us and the audience? In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn why it’s important to allow yourself to be surprised on stage as a speaker or storyteller and how that leads to more dynamic, memorable presentations, Talks, and stories.. I’ll share examples of embracing unexpected moments and answers questions like:

Why are spontaneity and authenticity crucial for effective speaking and storytelling? What impact can unexpected moments have on the audience? And what techniques can you use to create an authentic connection with your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the element of surprise affects your audience psychologically
• How you can embrace the unexpected as a speaker or storyteller on stage
• How an open, flexible approach can transform your audience’s experience

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in the final planning stages for Story to Standing Ovation, our annual live event, when my dad randomly stops by to drop something off. He comes toward my office, stops in the doorway, and says, “What the heck is that?”

As he points at my sliding glass doors, I tell him, “This is my brain on sticky notes.” What he’s looking at is three days of our event broken down, sticky style.

These aren’t just randomly placed sticky notes, either. I have these organized in full outline form and broken down into topics and categories. Some of the sticky notes are in bold, others are in different colors, and still others are highlighted.

Whenever I plan an event, a Talk, or even a story, I need to visually see the pieces. And even though I’ve tried other ways, this adhesive square playground is the planning method that works best for me.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how a simple tool like sticky notes can revolutionize the way you plan your stories, speeches, workshops, and other events and get answers to questions like:

What are the advantages of using sticky notes for story and other event planning? What do you need to consider when choosing your workspace for sticky notes? And what two things must you do to eliminate the confusion of working with your sticky note outline later on?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to brainstorm and categorize ideas on sticky notes
• How to structure your sticky notes in the outlining process
• How to use sticky notes to help you transition between sections

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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One sentence from a stranger is all it took to ignite the biggest epiphany of my life.

I’ll explain.

I’m sitting in the audience at my first TED conference, enraptured by all the speakers when a guy comes on stage who I’ve never heard of before. He starts showing some of the most beautiful and haunting images I’ve ever seen. Then he says something offhand that gives me chills…

Speaking of the impact of words, welcome to the next episode in our “Storytelling Seven” series! Today on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how to capture your audience’s attention from the very beginning by starting your story off with a bang. I unpack the power of using hook statements by answering questions like:

What is a hook, and how does using one in your story engage your audience? How do you craft an effective hook statement? How does FDR’s first inaugural address illustrate the power of a great story hook?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What a well-crafted hook does for your story and presentation
• What different forms hook statements can take in your story
• How a memorable story hook impacts your listeners

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m catching up with my Aunt Marie about everything that’s happening in life. She asks me, “Do you have any performances or events coming up?”

I do. Our annual three-day immersive speaker bootcamp is coming up at the end of February. For those three days, I get to be on stage helping people take their speaking to the next level.

“I don’t know how you do it,” my aunt replies. “Growing up, you were always so good in front of a crowd. You had no fear. I could never do that.”

And the more we talk about all the times I was in the spotlight growing up, the more I think, “Is confidence really cultivated? Is it a natural ability we’re born with, or can it be learned?”

In my most recent Masterclass, too, quite a few attendees expressed a desire to be more confident. So in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we’ll explore confidence in relation to communication, storytelling, and public speaking and get answers to questions such as:

What two elements does confidence as a speaker or storyteller really come down to? What does having confidence as a speaker or storyteller really mean? What three areas will help you cultivate your confidence when speaking or telling stories?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to visualize your success as a confident speaker or storyteller
• Why telling true stories helps raise your confidence level
• How embracing your speaking or storytelling mistakes builds confidence

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2016 and I’m putting on a high-stakes speaking and storytelling workshop. One of the attendees “Shawn” is the CEO of a tech company, and he’s not buying the idea of using storytelling to raise money and land deals.

I say to him, “Give me two days. But you’ve got to play all in. Are you in?”

Despite his skepticism that anything will drastically change for him, he reluctantly agrees.

When the workshop concludes, he feels this storytelling knowledge has given him a new competitive edge.

Fast forward in time a few years later when we run into “Shawn”. He reveals that he’s practiced that workshop training ever since it ended and landed a life-changing deal with one of the largest software companies in his industry! He completely attributes his success to his ability to apply what he learned at my workshop:

How to tell a great short story.

So if you want to know:

How can you use storytelling as your superpower and get others to choose you in a highly competitive playing field over your competition? And what powerful insider techniques do great storytellers use to get such great results?

Then I’ve got you covered! Today’s episode switches things up a bit. It’s very short and all about the Masterclass I’m offering that teaches you how to skyrocket your success with story.

What you will learn in the Masterclass:

• Why stories matter (with proven results)
• How stories work (with a behind-the-scenes unpacking)
• What change you can make to any story for dramatic effect
• What crucial element every story needs
• What essential question you must ask when using stories for business

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Free Masterclass: Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2015, and I’ve just started training in Improvisational comedy. Every Wednesday night, I attend Alan Irwin’s Improv classes at Santa Barbara Improv.

Weeks turn into months, and my fondness for Improv grows into an addiction. I want to learn more, absorb more, and grow faster!

So I start keeping a notebook of all the games we play and capturing all the critical class lessons and sound bites. I even stay after to ask for notes on my performance.

Yet, I still crave more and want to accelerate my learning beyond the pacing of one class a week. I ask Alan for private coaching and, while he doesn’t do it very often, he agrees.

Those one-on-one sessions are a game changer for me. They help deepen my understanding of the craft of Improv and allow me to significantly expand my knowledge. Thanks to his feedback from just a few of these private lessons, I end up at a completely different level.

So many of us want to accelerate our growth, amplify our learning, and expand our skills fast. How do we do that as speakers and storytellers?

In this continuation of our “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” series on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn where to start, how to accelerate your learning and grow with your audience, and how to keep track of your progression as you amplify the expansion of your speaking craft. I’ll answer questions like:

How do you personalize your development plan to become a master storyteller or speaker? How can you accelerate your success and make stories more engaging and memorable? How can you leverage digital platforms, networking, and collaborations to become more visible and expand your reach? How can you get more opportunities to practice storytelling and teach your expertise? And how do you integrate continuous learning into a busy schedule?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to come up with a development plan for mastering storytelling
• How you can use your audience to help you accelerate your growth
• What to look for to assess your storytelling and speaking progress over time

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Santa Barbara Improv
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at the main TEDx event, sitting in the theater next to a lady who’s captured my attention. Her name is Carrie, and she’s impeccably dressed. I can’t help but fixate on her outfit!

So as I’m chatting with her, I compliment her on her dress. She thanks me and says she’s a designer who makes custom dresses for her clients based on their unique measurements.

In addition to wanting to get a tape measure and order a custom-made dress of my own from her right then and there, I have to ask her out of curiosity, “How did you get started in the fashion business?”

“I believe the fashion industry has it wrong,” she responds. “It should be about role models, not runway models.”

She feels fashion needs to highlight the humans wearing the clothes, instead of the clothes themselves. Not only does she go on to debut at New York Fashion Week with this campaign, she’s also one of the first designers to feature a model in a wheelchair on the runway. She’s challenging societal norms and giving voice to a segment that doesn’t always have a voice and doing so in an industry that is set in its ways in certain aspects.

As someone who identifies as a non-binary gay cowboy, my special guest today also highlights marginalized voices in his work. Shawn-Caulin Young is an acclaimed LGBTQ+ actor, writer, director, and film and TV producer. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, he’s here to talk about the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in his storytelling journey and the impact these qualities have in storytelling to bring to life the experiences of marginalized communities. He also answers questions such as:

What story imprisons too many actors, writers, and other artists? How can you get to your breakthrough moment of authenticity as a storyteller? What’s one thing that instantly disarms any resistance others might have to sharing their stories? And how can you use the breath to help you handle fear and enhance your presence and creativity with storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories have the power to keep you safe (or cause self-inflicted harm)
• What impact embracing authenticity, vulnerability, and dis-likability have in storytelling
• How you can create a safe space for others to share their story

Who is Shawn-Caulin?

Shawn-Caulin Young is an acclaimed LGBTQ actor, writer, director, and film and TV producer whose storyteller roots extend deep into the arid expanses of Farmington, New Mexico amidst the vibrant tapestry of the Navajo Nation. He’s the youngest of four whose distinct, artistic voice has been shaped by his unique upbringing amidst the professional horse racing world where he identifies as a non-binary gay cowboy.

As a beacon for LGBTQIA+ narratives, Shawn-Caulin has garnered acclaim across the spectrum of his various roles. His artistic voyage began in the corridors of high school drama, eventually propelling him to the prestigious Hartt School (UHA) in Connecticut, culminating in a BFA in Acting. His journey, enriched by classical training in England, led him to the vibrant streets of New York City, marking the beginning of an illustrious career in film and television.

Known for his transformative and heartfelt performances in Godless, Santa Clarita Diet, True Detective, and notably in the film The Hammer, Shawn-Caulin has etched a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide. He also received the esteemed Screencraft Fellowship in 2022 for his work delving deep into the fabric of the Southwest (and beyond) and championing the untold stories of underrepresented communities with a keen eye on identity and perseverance. His scripts are not just tales but lifelines to the unsung experiences echoing from the underdog's world.

Beyond the camera, Shawn-Caulin is a seasoned horseman and a devoted mentor, guiding young artists in the art of storytelling and filmmaking. His artistic journey, dotted with significant accolades and an undying passion for storytelling, continues to push the boundaries of creative expression. His commitment to diversity and authenticity makes his body of work not just entertaining but profoundly impactful and inspiring for storytellers and audiences alike.

Links and Resources

• Shawn-Caulin Young
• @shawncaulinyoung on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m teaching an Improv class where everyone is doing an exercise called “Headlines”. We’re standing in a circle on stage, and one by one, we each share an outlandish headline we’ve made up on the spot.

But there’s a twist: each person has to start their headline with the last word from the previous person’s headline. So, for example, if the prior person says, “Life found on planet Pluto” as their headline, the next person has to start their headline with the word “Pluto”. It’s a hilarious exercise that has us holding our tummies from laughing so hard.

One week later, I’m meeting with a client who says to me:

“I’m thinking about the year ahead, and there are so many things I want to do and create. I don’t know where to start.”

In that moment, my mind goes back to the Headline game. So I ask her:

“What if we fast-forward a year? In your favorite publication, there’s a headline about you, your business, your life. What does that headline say?”

She loves the idea of doing this exercise! And I invite you to do the same in the first episode of a new podcast series I’m calling the Storytelling Seven, where you get bite-sized tools and tactics you can put in practice right now to take yourself to the next level.

Today on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how you can use the Headline exercise to set goals and create a vision for the story of your future. You’ll get answers to questions like:

How can headlines be used as teasers for stories? How do you create a headline and reverse-engineer the actions needed to achieve it? And why is celebrating your success so important?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to influence your own story by creating a headline
• What steps to take to create your headline when setting goals
• Why celebrating success is a necessity

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m working with a new client who is getting ready for a huge keynote speech. He tells me that he felt like his last speech completely fell flat and the audience felt disengaged. So I ask him:

“Did you use storytelling in any way in your last speech?”

“No, of course not,” he responds. In his view, story wasn’t appropriate for his last talk because it was very data-heavy.

So I challenge him. “Since you are in the scientific community,” I say, “what if, as an experiment, you add a story to this upcoming Keynote to bring the data to life?”

I give him some background about why and how story works. And in the end, he trusts me and delivers his Keynote to a huge standing ovation. To this day, he continues using story in his scientific presentations.

We might think we need to deliver data in a straightforward way. Yet our brains are wired to remember stories so much better than facts. There are studies that show people retain up to 70% of the information shared through story, as opposed to only 5-10% when it’s just presented as data.

My special guest today, Genein Letford, deals in data through her work in Brain-Centric Design and a curriculum rooted in neuroscience and cognitive psychology. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about the connection between the brain and storytelling and narrative, as well as get answers to questions like:

How does your brain respond when you hear a story? What is intercultural creativity, and how does it tie into story? How does your cultural development and competency impact your creative thinking and agility in various aspects of life? And how can you use the arts to increase your ability to tell stories?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How your creativity identity is driven through narrative and can influence others
• Why creative agility is necessary for everyone in a changing world
• How relatability helps your story reach a new level for your audience

Who is Genein?

Genein is a national thought leader and creator of the concept of Prismatic Leadership, Intercultural Creativity®, and NeuroSomatic Creativity®. She is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of CAFFE Strategies, LLC which is a consulting, coaching, and training company that trains C-Suite executives and employees to create sustainable organizational equity and inclusion strategies based on neuroscience while unleashing their innovative thinking for themselves and in their businesses. Her 7 Gems of Intercultural Creativity is a leading framework that supports organizations and corporations in their diversity and inclusion development while developing critical cognitive tools for creative thinking.

Genein holds degrees in psychology and educational development from UCLA and CSUN, is certified in Brain-Centric Design, and roots her curriculum in neuroscience and cognitive psychology. She believes creative thinking thrives best in an inclusive environment, and she is often called ‘America’s Creative Coach’ for her work in reigniting intercultural creativity within our workforce.

Links and Resources

• CAFFE Strategies, LLC
• Genein Letford
• @genein on LinkedIn
• @geneinletford on Instagram
• @GeneinLetford on Twitter
• @GeneinSpeaks on Facebook
• Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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In a small village, a young shepherd boy is given the task of guarding the sheep. He’s the type of boy who wants entertainment and perhaps even attention. So he suddenly cries out, “Wolf!”

Hearing this, all the villagers come rushing to his aid. When they arrive, there’s no wolf to be seen. So they get back to their daily lives.

Then they hear the boy cry “Wolf!” again. The villagers run over and still, they don’t see a prowling threat to their flock.

This happens again and again. They hear the “warning,” rush over, and each time they don’t find a wolf, their trust in the shepherd boy diminishes.

Then, one day, a wolf does suddenly appear to threaten the sheep. When the boy cries “Wolf!” this time, the villagers ignore him. So the wolf is free to feast on the flock, and the boy is left with a hard lesson to learn about telling the truth.

Why does this well-known fable work so well as a memorable and persuasive teaching tool (in this case, for the importance of honesty)? In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll get a deeper look into why this fable works along with other powerful insights on how to craft persuasive stories. You’ll also hear examples of persuasive storytelling in action and discover answers to the following:

What are the important elements that make a story persuasive? How can storytellers balance facts and emotions to persuade effectively? And what common mistakes should you avoid making in persuasive storytelling?

…and much more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the structure of your story contributes to its persuasiveness
• How advertisers, brands, charities, and politicians use story elements to persuade your decisions
• How persuasive story elements help take complex or abstract issues and make them personal and compelling

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 1990. Five days after my moped accident with a cement truck, I wake up in my hospital room. The doctor comes in and says, “Kymberlee, you’re going to have headaches for likely the rest of your life. You’ll probably have trouble with balance too. You’ll need plastic surgery on your face. And you may have lost your sense of taste and smell forever.”

I’m thinking, “How is this possible?” I can deal with all the other things he said and anything else I have to do. Yet how could I have lost two of my senses forever?

I spend weeks and months trying to make sense of it and trying to get my senses back. I’m doing everything I can to taste or smell something--anything--again. Nothing works.

A few more months go by when I’m at a different doctor’s office for a checkup. I tell him what’s going on and ask why it’s happening to me. He explains to me:

“Our brains are connected to cranial nerves that affect our taste and smell. If those nerves are slightly damaged, they can grow back. If they’re severed, however, there’s nothing that can be done.”

So my cranial nerves are severed. Despite not liking hearing that news, it finally helps me understand the story of what’s going on in my body. And knowing that… changes everything.

My special guest today, Amy Zolotow, is a healthcare operations leader who thrives on finding the real story in the data. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about storytelling within the healthcare space as it relates to data, connections, and humans in the medical field. You’ll also get answers to questions like:

How does learning the stories of the people around you in a time of crisis help you (and them) after? How does story help bridge the disconnection gap people have with data in the healthcare industry? What role does artificial intelligence (AI) play in the story of patients and practitioners in healthcare?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How a deceased loved one’s story can be changed through your memories
• Why you sometimes need to dig beyond the data to find the full story
• How important AI is for the story of the healthcare industry, now and in the future

Who is Amy?

An accomplished healthcare operations leader, Amy Zolotow thrives in complexity. Whether leading cross-functional teams or finding the real story in data, Amy drives lasting change in dynamic, matrixed healthcare environments. She consistently strives for shared language, community building, and technology adoption--all with an eye on the most effective patient and employee experience.

Amy’s work at the operational level has explored the impact of AI, matching organizational and human needs to technological merit. She has lent her expertise as a moderator and speaker at Ai4 and a panelist and Ambassador for AIMed, leading vital discussions on the importance of responsible and thoughtful AI adoption and implementation in healthcare.

Her career includes business and operational leadership roles at Johns Hopkins International, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Mercy Personal Physicians. Currently, she also serves as a Healthcare Advisor at ScaleHealth and Principal Solutions Architect, Healthcare and AI at Synthminds.

Links and Resources

• Amy on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I almost don’t do it.

Normally, a Storytelling School Podcast episode lasts around 30 minutes with a special guest (or myself) delivering mic drop moments and storytelling nuggets of pure gold. Yet, for the 100th episode, I do something special; I collect these moments and golden nuggets from the first 99 episodes and put them all together in a single show.

The episode runs over an hour. Does anyone want to listen for that long?

Yes! It works so well and I get so many positive comments that I’m commemorating another milestone for the podcast by doing it again!

In this special episode, we’re celebrating over 150 episodes of the Storytelling School Podcast with more ‘write-them-down’ worthy mic drop moments from special guests and yours truly. So get ready to take notes as you hear these powerful storytelling ideas and perspectives that can make a significant difference in your business and life.

Enjoy.

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting in the living room at eight years old when my mom walks in and says, “Kymberlee, I have a surprise.” It’s not a holiday or my birthday, so there's nothing particularly special about this night… yet.

So what’s the big surprise? “Tonight is going to be movie night.”

Now there’s one particular well-loved book I read over and over again and keep on the nightstand by my bed so I recall all my favorite moments within its pages: Charlotte’s Web.

The TV comes on, and we start watching the movie version of Charlotte’s Web, in living color on the screen. And as with the book, I’m mesmerized seeing what I’ve imagined in my mind so many times come to life right in front of me. I can’t help but watch it over and over again, just like with reading the written version.

Why was I so obsessed with this story? Was it the narrative? The plot? The characters? The scenery? The messages? I’d say it’s all of the above.

My special guest today, Rene Rawls, lives in this world of educational storytelling herself as an author, screenwriter, and teacher. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about her proverb detective, how storytelling can provide a lot of good life lessons, and the power of telling stories about yourself and others that make you happy. You’ll also get answers to questions such as:

What’s one way you can increase a young child’s learning through stories? How does writing stories help you discover things about yourself? How can you and your kids better understand the lessons that proverbs can teach? And what’s one major difference between the same story written in book vs. screenplay form?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you should thank the antagonists of your story, in fiction and real-life
• How awareness of the story you tell yourself about yourself makes a difference
• How backstory can change your perspective on life and those around you

Who is Rene?

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as the daughter of an elementary school librarian and a lawyer, Rene Rawls has evolved into becoming an educational storyteller who’s dedicated to inspiring tots, tweens, and teens to do the right thing through the content she creates. For years, she used her platform as a teacher to impart both academic and life lessons to her students throughout the USA. But when she became a writer, her classroom exponentially expanded to include kids all over the world!

Rene firmly believes that what children see in the media can be just as impactful as what they don’t see, especially if they don’t see themselves. So, she creates content for that unseen child. Not only has her work been celebrated by national and international audiences, but her stories have been acknowledged by the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood.

After writing Sule and the Case of the Tiny Sparks, Rene received the Mandela Day/Tribeca All Access Award, and the script was produced as an animated short film. In addition, her picture book, Sule and the Case of the Tied-up Lion, was selected as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 2021, and it received the Kirkus star.

Rene’s passion for writing and teaching has led to her intentionally telling stories that capture those precious, magical moments of learning in awe-inspiring and fun ways. Her heart simply melts when she’s asked by kids to create more content.

Links and Resources:

• Sule the Proverb Detective
• Sule and the Case of the Tiny Sparks - YouTube
• @rnrawls on Instagram
• Rene on LinkedIn
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at a family gathering when a family friend remarks about the weather.

“It’s cold outside.”

Others agree. Someone chimes in about the wind.

Then someone else mentions that it hasn’t rained in a while.

Oof.

I can't take it anymore. I have to step in. “Rain makes me think of snow. And snow makes me think of the time Dad decided it would be a brilliant idea to go out and tie an inner tube to the back of the rental car so my best friend, Nikki, and I can ride it.”

As 10-year-olds, Nikki and I love this idea. So we wedge ourselves into the inner tube together while my dad gets behind the wheel and starts driving down the snow-covered road. Yet, it doesn’t all go according to plan…

As I relay the story to everyone of how this inner tube adventure goes down, I look around the table and realize everyone is laughing! And all of a sudden, I’m laughing with them at the ridiculousness of the situation.

My story does the trick. Not only does this conversation become more lively and fun, it also reminds my dad of his own story about growing up on the farm. And for the next two hours, we take turns around the table telling hilarious true tales.

With the holidays coming up, there’s going to be lots of dinners and parties with family and friends. So how do we take the chit-chatty conversations that often go on during these events and turn them into storytelling adventures for everyone there? In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how to turn conversations from small talk into story time and get answers to questions like:

Where do you begin when you want to change up the energy of a conversation? And how can turning small talk into stories affect the interaction between you, friends, and family years from now?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to segue a conversation from mundane to memorable
• How specific words can help you turn small talk into a story
• What stories are, down to their simple core

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s Saturday morning. I’m headed out for coffee with friends after a kickboxing class.

As I get out of my car in the parking lot, my phone starts blowing up with text messages. I look down and see that they’re coming from a number I don’t recognize.

I start reading. “You don’t know me,” the message says, “but you worked with my wife several years ago on her TEDx Talk. I was wondering if you had time to help me get ready for mine?”

I text back saying I can and ask, “When’s your TEDx Talk?”

“Tonight,” he answers back.

So I cancel the rest of my Saturday plans. And for the next six hours we work like crazy to get him ready for the spotlight that night.

His Talk ends up being a huge success. Yet I can only imagine how much more incredible it would have been with more time to work on it.

I get asked all the time, “What’s the ideal countdown for a Talk? What should I have on my calendar from the time I’m invited to speak to when I’m standing there in the spotlight?”

It varies depending on time, place, and preparedness ahead of time. So many different factors come into play.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how to take your speech or story from the storyboard to the spotlight in 90 days. I’ll unpack a few areas for you to consider as you hit different time milestones along the way and answer questions like:

What do you need to ask yourself to help you design the content for your Talk? How do you choose the story (or stories) you want to tell in your speech? What logistics of your Talk do you need to consider and confirm ahead of time? How can you make practicing your speech fun instead of monotonous? What do you need to consider about how you look, sleep, and eat (especially as you get closer to the Talk)?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What three objectives to keep in mind when you’re preparing your speech
• How knowing the logistics of your Talk ahead of time sets you up for your best self
• What you can do at the venue on the day to keep yourself relaxed and ready to go

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m getting a speaker ready to hit the TEDx stage. He has a completely unique take on what it means to be of service in the hospitality industry. So I ask him:

“What story are you going to tell to set up your Idea Worth Spreading?”

He says that he has a story about a client… and another about a vendor… which is when I interject:

“Hang on, hang on. What personal story do you have that allows us to feel how committed and passionate you are about this idea?”

His response? “The audience doesn’t want to hear about me.”

“What if they do?” I reply. “What if by sharing a real, even vulnerable story, the audience can get to know, like, and ultimately trust you?”

He goes for it, and his Talk ends up being a huge success! Several weeks after it goes live, he tells me he wants to do it again. The process of sharing his personal story was incredibly valuable for the audience and very therapeutic for him, as well.

My special guest today, Alisha Kalisher, has also found therapeutic value in her passion. She’s a professional vocalist and songwriter and has a Master’s degree in Depth Psychology and Creativity with an emphasis on Arts and Humanities. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how she uses creative expression as a mechanism to help heal the stories of trauma survivors, as well as get answers to questions such as:

Why is the area of creative expression so important to study? How can people get around the fear of stories they don’t want to tell? Why is play in creative expression essential for both the mind and body? And how does vulnerability in storytelling connect us all?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How untold stories affect you (either when you keep them to yourself or finally share them)
• How creative expression can help you with the stories you fear telling
• How using a playful storytelling process can influence songwriting

Who is Alisha?

Alisha Kalisher is a professional vocalist and songwriter living in Altadena, California. She has achieved many accolades and awards, performed on late-night television, awards shows, with orchestras across the United States, and some of LA’s most notable venues, as well as written many songs for film, and television with her husband. She also collaborated with her husband on their project The Sheen, as contributors to the Meta Music Initiative.

While music has been a big part of her life, she has always been an avid seeker and student in the study of humanity. In conjunction with her studies as a graduate student, receiving a master's degree in Depth Psychology and Creativity with an emphasis in the Arts and Humanities, she has gathered a collection of songs to release her album Center Line.

Alisha’s graduate education ignited a passion for the therapeutic value of creative expression. She is currently a student at the Expressive Arts Institute where she is training to become an Expressive Arts Facilitator. In 2022, she founded the Bella Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization that believes in promoting and providing healing experiences through the creative and expressive arts to support and empower survivors of trauma.

Links and Resources

• Alisha Kalisher
• Bella Arts Foundation
• @alishakalisher on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“You should reach out to Joni.”

I’m reading a text from my step-mom and she is suggesting I contact a dear friend of hers because her focus on Musical Improv can take performances to the next level.

I’ve met Joni and she’s fantastic. The challenge is: I’m directing a big Improv show this Friday… and it's already Tuesday. So there’s not much time to bring her in.

I’m thinking, “What if introducing music now ends up throwing off the performers or intimidating those who aren’t so musically inclined?”

I decided to go for it anyway. I invited Joni to our Tuesday evening class so she could be part of our rehearsal and get to know the players before Friday’s show.

And I create a game set list that involves everyone–from those highly inclined in Musical Improv to those who have zero experience. I want them all to feel like musical superheroes.

After the class is over, my phone starts blowing up with text messages from different students. Everyone loved the addition of Joni and her music. And she had a great time too!

Experiences like this are just a reminder that it’s good to mix things up sometimes. When you try new things and put yourself even a little out of your comfort zone, you open yourself up to a new story of possibility.

And when it comes to music, my special guest Dan Kalisher knows a lot about mixing it up. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how music can impact the story you’re telling (whether in a performance or a Talk), as well as get answers to questions such as:

Why does music transcend spoken language? And what’s one reason why people can feel creatively stuck or like they’ve hit a roadblock?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the emotional side of storytelling in front of a live audience differs from that in a studio
• How location can influence you as a storytelling artist
• What key aspect can help you keep your creativity well-flowing

Who is Dan?

Dan Kalisher is a session guitar and pedal steel player, producer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles. He has played all over the world performing and recording with artists such as Noah Cyrus, Grace Potter, Louis Tomlinson, Fitz and the Tantrums, Bea Miller, AJ McClean, Don Felder, Matthew Morrison, JC Chasez, and Jesse McCartney. He has also performed at countless music festivals, with regional orchestras nationwide, and has appeared on several major network morning and late-night television shows.

As an award-winning songwriter and producer, Dan has over 25 placements of original music in network TV and worldwide ad campaigns. Most recently, he contributed over 100 original songs for the Meta Sound Collection.

Links and Resources:

• @dankalisher on Instagram
• @dankalisher on TikTok
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the second round of selecting speakers for an upcoming TEDx event. I’m there with our committee on either side of me, facing a speaker standing in front of us. I ask her:

“Why are you the right person to speak on this topic?”

She says she’s not a professional speaker. She doesn’t like being on stage at all, and in fact, her knees are shaking just talking to us.

And then she goes on:

“This issue of human trafficking in our city is vitally important. It is dangerous, and we need to raise awareness on what’s happening, how it’s happening, why it’s happening, and what we can do about it. No one else was coming to talk about this so here I am.”

Because of her expertise on this topic, her commitment to affecting change, and her role within the city, she was selected to speak at this particular upcoming TEDx event.

Sometimes, it’s the conversations we don’t want to have that are the most necessary. Tackling delicate, even dangerous issues is where change can begin with a new perspective, insight, or action.

It all starts with a story.

And my special guest today, James Joyce III, has direct experience with having delicate conversations. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about his perspective on telling tough stories and get answers to questions like:

How can stories break down barriers? How has music served as a cultural storytelling vehicle for Black Americans? And what role does storytelling play in being a journalist or political candidate?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How sharing your story through conversations can spark a movement
• How an iconic superhero slogan reflects a journalistic approach to storytelling
• What five guiding principles of story engagement you should follow

Who is James?

Originally from Maryland, James Joyce III is an award-winning journalist, educator, public servant, civil rights activist, and social entrepreneur. He founded Coffee with a Black Guy (CWABG) which serves as a safe place for interactive, community conversations about a variety of issues from the perspective of a Black man. It's been a growing, grassroots effort hosted by him and his team to help put an end to racism.

Known as a sturdy leader and champion for justice, Joyce has served on various advisory boards in the Santa Barbara area. For much of the past decade, he was District Director for California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (Ret.), who represented nearly 1 million constituents within Santa Barbara and Ventura counties until December 2020. Currently, he’s serving as adjunct faculty for the Santa Barbara City College Career Skills Institute. He’s also on the board for the Common Table Foundation (formerly the Lois and Walter Capps Project), Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara, TV Santa Barbara, as well as the national board for Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB).

Joyce was runner-up in the 2021 Santa Barbara mayoral election, securing 27 percent of the votes cast among six candidates. Now, Joyce leverages more than two decades of public service and journalism experience to provide impactful insight for groups and individuals seeking to gain better cross-cultural understanding.

Links and Resources

• Coffee With a Black Guy
• @Coffeewblackguy on Facebook
• @coffeewblackguy on Twitter/X
• Coffee With a Black Guy on Youtube
• @cwabg on Instagram
• @cwabg on Threads
• @cwabg on LinkedIn
• James Joyce III on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in a law class at Pepperdine, studying for my MBA. In our first assignment, we’re supposed to take this unbelievable amount of text and turn it into an outline using a very specific structure and methodology.

I’m thinking, “Why do we need to outline? I just read all of this text and highlighted certain sections of it in detail. It’s fine. Plus, It seems like a waste of time. And aren’t all outlines the same anyway? Why is structure so important?”

I begrudgingly do the assignment and turn it in.

Then we get our next assignment… more outlining! Next assignment? Alas more outlining again!

By the middle of the semester, something dawns on me: I start to realize that I’m looking at paragraphs of text completely differently. I can pinpoint what matters most even faster.

At the end of the semester… I am an outlining Ninja.

This skill that I learned in my Graduate Studies has turned out to be a tool that I use to this very day.

Every time I read any block of text I can't help but condense it down to its most essential elements which has definitely helped influence my path of specializing and Short Form Communications. I love to take complex things and condense them down to their most essential elements, especially in storytelling.

The elements we use in stories really matter–to the listener, to the memories we can create in the minds of our listener, and to the integrity of the story. Michael Stinson has an incredible career exploring and teaching the cinematic art of storytelling, in addition to many other forms. And today on the Storytelling School Podcast, he’s here to talk about how stories bind the world, share the tools he uses to explain storytelling, reveal what keeps an audience engaged, and tell us:

How can experiencing different cultures influence your storytelling? Why is it a mistake to tell everything in your story? What’s the best way to create suspense, and what other tools are essential for storytelling? And how are cinematic journeys like cathartic, storytelling labyrinths for the audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How you can craft the most effective personal narrative to tell others
• Why suspense is so effective for audience engagement (and how it differs from surprise)
• What three flavors of conflict you can choose in your story

Who is Michael?

Michael Stinson is the professor of Film and Media Studies at Santa Barbara City College where he has taught courses in film studies, film production, screenwriting, film editing, cinematography, and directing for over two decades. He is also the author of Labyrinth of Light: A Journey Into Cinema and has co-directed the 10-10-10 filmmaking and screenwriting competition at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for the past 20 years.

Prior to film school, Michael spent a decade abroad as a photojournalist based in Europe and the Far East. He worked for five years as a screenwriter for the Hollywood studios after earning a Master’s degree in Film and Television from UCLA. Then, he began teaching at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has taught courses in film and media at the University of Rome, New School University, and Los Angeles Film School.

Michael is a Member Emeritus of the Writers Guild of America, Society of American Travel Writers, and PEN America. Currently, he directs international film programs in Rome, Paris, and Tokyo. Residing in Santa Barbara, California, he also now divides his time between a Craftsman bungalow built by the town barber in 1906 and a Cheoy Lee sailboat moored in the harbor.

Links and Resources:

Email Michael: paperhammer@hotmail.com, paperhammer@gmail.com, or paperhammer@mac.com

Labyrinth of Light: A Journey Into Cinema by Michael Stinson

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m about to speak to a room full of CEOs. These CEOs know there’s a guest speaker, yet the topic has not been revealed.

Because I’ve been told that this group loves to be challenged and pushed outside their comfort zone, I come in and start my Talk with an unusual request.

I have everyone stand up and form a big circle. Then I invite them, one at a time, to step into the middle of this circle and introduce themselves with their name and in the form of any character they wish. After which everyone in the room repeats that person’s name and character in unison.

This is an Improv game called Character Intro. To demonstrate, I start things off and it goes around the circle.

When the game circles back around to me, I say to everyone:

“Great work. That’s a level one or two. Let’s do it again, same character, but take it up to a five or six. What would that look like?”

So we do it again, each person taking their character up a few notches in whatever way that looks like for them. After the second round, I say:

“We’re getting warmer. Now I’d like to invite you to step into the middle of the circle at a 10.”

When this third round gets to the fourth person, he suddenly leaps into the air and somersaults forward into the circle as his character to cheers and laughter.

This whole exercise is meant to demonstrate that we, regardless of what we do, always have an opportunity to be at a 10. It’s up to you how you want to enter the room and communicate, which is something that my special guest, Maja Watkins, is an expert at helping others (especially kids) do.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how to apply Improv in situations where you can really use this skill on a deeper level and get answers to questions like:

How do storytelling games contribute to social and emotional learning? How can you adapt storytelling games and Improv exercises for a different audience? What story should adults be telling themselves about play? And what makes applied Improv so powerful?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How Improv and playfulness can help kids on the autism spectrum with story
• How to bring light to frustrating moments in your daily story
• How Improv and making story connections can help form friendships

Who is Maja?

Maja is a mother, author, education consultant, and non-profit founder living in Los Angeles, California. She holds a degree in Child Development and is also a graduate of The Second City in Hollywood where she studied Improvisation and sketch comedy. Through her work with children in various settings, and her experience growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum, she has developed an understanding of how powerful communication is for all people.

Maja is the author of The Brain's Playground: Using Improv Games To Teach Social and Emotional Learning as well as the author of a parenting guidebook titled 10 Minutes of Play for 10 Days. The Brain’s Playground includes her valuable research, data, and curriculum.

Right now, she works as a Play Specialist focusing on inclusion using her curriculum designed to allow children and young adults to reach their highest potential in whichever way they feel most comfortable. Her newest project is a script putting her true stories with kids to life in a preschool animated pilot!

Links and Resources:

• Maja Watkins
• The Brain’s Playground and 10 Minutes of Play for 10 Days by Maja Watkins
• @majawatkins on Instagram
• @majawatkins on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in Los Angeles at the beginning of my Improv exploration. During an advanced class I’m taking, I go out on stage to do my scene.

As I’m sitting there, painting my nails in this scene, my scene partner comes in and starts suddenly lighting fireworks and firecrackers all around me. I go on painting my nails, not reacting to the situation.

The instructor stops the scene right there and says, “Kymberlee, react.”

I’m thinking, “What do you mean? I’m focused. I’m painting my nails.”

She responds, “I need you to react with the fireworks going on around you. What’s your point of view on that? Do you care? Do you not care? Even if you don’t, we need you to react in some way.”

Lightbulb moment.

So often, we as storytellers and speakers are so focused on getting to the end of the story or the speech. We’re trying to make sure we deliver every line and paragraph correctly that we forget to react and respond to what just happened. And oftentimes, that reaction might just be internal.

My guest today, Niccole Thurman, lives a life reacting as an actress, writer, and Improv performer. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about how she does it and answers questions like:

What’s the difference in choosing how you react within a role or character in life (or through Improv) versus a scripted version? What different facets can flow into creating a variety of characters? And what can you do when you’re having trouble adapting to a role or character?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to best get into the head of a character you’re creating (or co-creating)
• How to deal with rejection as a storyteller (or in life generally)
• What story element truly makes comedy work and go viral

Who is Niccole?

Niccole Thurman is a Los Angeles-based actress and WGA award-winning writer. She is the voice of Jabberjaw, Squiddly Diddly and Dee Dee Sykes in the HBOMax series Jellystone. Her past work includes voiceovers and appearances on: Grace and Frankie and Desperados (Netflix); Kenan , Indebted, and Superstore (NBC); A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO); and Shrill (Hulu). She was also a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper.

As a writer Niccole has worked on the ESPYs, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards (hosted By Jimmy Kimmel), Sherman’s Showcase (AMC), Baking It (Peacock), Haute Dog (HBO Max), Phoebe Robinson’s show Everything is Trash (Freeform), and Robert Smigel’s Let’s Be Real (Fox).

Links and Resources

• Niccole Thurman
• @niccolethurman on Instagram
• @niccolethurman on Twitter
• Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim “Howard” Johnson
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2012. My software company is working with one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. They have tremendous expertise they can share with their clients. They’re so large, though, that they’re completely siloed and can’t easily share this organizational knowledge quickly.

The agency’s chief strategic and chief technology officers have a vision to unite their worldwide employees so they can do this at the drop of a hat. And that’s where my company comes in.

We’re hired to work with their CTO to provide instant access to all talent across their organization. We build data bridges to different technologies on different platforms located at different places around the world.

It’s some pretty fancy stuff, and we really have to roll up our sleeves on this huge undertaking. Nothing like this has been done before.

Once our software is in place, the agency can access the intelligence of everyone in their entire global organizational community for the good of their clients in just a couple of clicks. For them, we created a new story where connecting to talent can be quick, efficient, and a game changer in their business.

My special guest today, Etienne de Bruin, has spent a career in software development and inside the C-suite. In this episode of The Storytelling School podcast, you’ll learn how he drives the vision and execution of multiple stories for various organizations around the world and get answers to questions such as:

What role does a chief technology officer (CTO) play in the story of a company? And how does Etienne’s company help support the story of CTOs everywhere?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the common image of a CTO is different than the real story
• How making connections can change your story
• How to keep people in a community engaged in sharing stories

Who is Etienne?

Etienne de Bruin began his career as a software developer in his native South Africa before moving to Germany, where he joined a startup building innovative products in the data encryption space. Then he moved to San Diego, where he managed the supply chain and business intelligence of a biotech startup.

From 2005 to 2015, Etienne co-founded a company, where he served as CTO, navigating SaaS product development in a rapidly scaling environment and establishing himself as a highly effective C-level executive. After serving many organizations as advisory board member or CTO, Etienne founded 7CTOs, a peer group and coaching organization supporting CTOs, technical founders, and other executive leaders.

Links and Resources:

• 7CTOs
• 7CTOs 0111 Conference
• Etienne de Bruin
• @etdebruin on Twitter
• @etdebruin on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m preparing for my 5th-level Black Belt test. As part of the test, we have to create and perform a series of movements - with or without weapons - to show the Grandmaster and test board that we’re capable at this level.

Oh, and it has to be 100% unique and created from scratch.

So this is high-stakes stuff. I know I need to come up with something that I’ve never done before. Ideas start coming to me and I dismiss them one by one, like train cars passing by.

Then, it hits me! I’m a storyteller and an Improv performer. Even though this is a Martial Arts test, I need to tell a story that’s never been told before.

Now, this is already an unusual approach since most martial artists aren’t thinking about going to the mat to tell a story. Yet in my case, it needs to happen because this is how I think and who I am.

I come up with a fantastic narrative. I’m in Tokyo enjoying my tea when I go over to the window. Suddenly, intruder after intruder comes through it and attacks me! I started doing all types of maneuvers, using household items around me as weapons to disarm and dispose of the invaders.

In the end, it’s just me sipping on my glass of tea with all this carnage on the floor around me. And while I can’t prove it, I swear I see a little moisture in the Grandmaster’s eyes… and he normally doesn’t show his emotions.

And that’s the power of a great story. You know you’ve done good when your audience can feel what you (or the characters in your story) feel.

And that brings me to my special guest today, Sarah Jenkins, who is a master at bringing comedic stories to life without saying a word. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how she does it through choreography and imagery and get answers to questions like:

What makes comedic short-form storytelling so special? Why does harder not equate to being better in story form? How can you know why an organic joke (not written on the page) lands for an audience or not? And what kind of mistake should you avoid that a lot of storytellers and speakers make?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What it means to be “in service of the joke” in comedic storytelling
• Why the steps you take as you tell your story don’t matter
• What has to be in your story to make it memorable and effective

Who is Sarah?

Sarah Marie Jenkins is a California native residing in NYC. She has been dance captain and associate choreographer for numerous shows, as well as the choreographer for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, Mr. Mayor on NBC, and Girls 5 Eva on Peacock.

Recently, she starred as Peter Pan in the first ever remounting of Jerome Robbins Broadway at the MUNY, as well as in the Cathy Rigby version of the show (as her successor). Before that, Sarah was seen as Jennyanydots in the revival of CATS on Broadway. She has also been on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law & Order: SVU, and performed on the Today Show and Bonnie Hunt Show.

Her national tours and musical work include Legally Blonde, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Guys & Dolls, Swing!, Can-Can, Honeymoon in Vegas, and The Nutty Professor (directed by Jerry Lewis). When she’s not working on the stage or screen, Sarah has a successful photography business specializing in headshots for actors of all ages.

Links and Resources:

• @SarahMJenkins on Instagram
• @SarahJenkinsPhoto on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2016. I’m putting on a high-stakes speaking and storytelling workshop. One of the attendees “Shawn” is the CEO of a tech company, and he’s not buying the idea of using storytelling to raise money and land deals.

I say to him, “Give me two days. But you’ve got to play all in. Are you in?”

Despite his skepticism that anything will drastically change for him, he reluctantly agrees.

When the workshop concludes, he feels he has a new competitive edge with this storytelling knowledge.

Fast forward in time to two weeks ago when we run into “Shawn”. He reveals that he’s practiced that workshop training ever since it ended and landed a life-changing deal with one of the largest software companies in his industry! He completely attributes his success to his ability to what he learned at my workshop:

How to tell a great short story.

So if you want to know:

What powerful insider techniques do great storytellers use to get such great results? And how can you use storytelling as your superpower and get others to choose you in a highly competitive playing field over your competition?

Then I’ve got you covered! Today’s episode switches things up a bit. It’s very short and all about the Masterclass I’m offering (I only do this a couple of times a year!) that teaches you how to skyrocket your success with story.

What you will learn in the Masterclass:

• Why stories matter (with proven results)
• How stories work (with a behind-the-scenes unpacking)
• What change you can make to any story for dramatic effect
• What crucial element every story needs
• What essential question you must ask when using stories for business

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Free Masterclass: Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Notes to come

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I’ve just finished speaking at a live event when one of the attendees approaches me and asks:

“Was your whole story about the moped accident true?”

“Yes,” I reply.

“All of it?” he asks incredulously. “Everything you did to get back on the softball mound as a pitcher? The part about using martial arts to get your balance back? And you completely lost your sense of taste and smell?”

I affirm that yes, all of it is true. See, he’d been thinking that I made these things up just to enliven my story.

I tell him, “Our true stories can often be way better than fiction.” When we look back on our lives, we may discover moments more heroic than any we could have made up.

And whether or not the story you’re sharing is true or fiction, it’s the truth within the story that helps our audience learn, gain perspective, and make different choices than they otherwise would’ve made.

And that leads me to my special guest today, Wendy Whitman. Wendy is an author and award-winning expert on murder crimes in America. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, she’s here to dig into the world of story through the lens of crime and answer questions like:

How do you approach dry subjects (like legal cases) and craft them for better audience engagement? What toll does it take on you to cover murder crimes day in and day out? And how is storytelling different for a TV-viewing audience versus a book-reading one?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to approach telling a true crime story with care
• What you can do to help prevent yourself from having your story cut short
• Why we are captivated by true crime stories

Who is Wendy?

Wendy Whitman is an author and expert on the subject of murder in the U.S. She worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin before attending Boston University School of Law. After graduating from law school, she embarked on what turned out to be a 20-year career in television covering crime. Fifteen of those years were spent as an executive producer for Court TV. Then Wendy spent another few years on HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter covering almost every major high-profile murder case in the country.

During her tenure at Court TV, she received three Telly Awards and two GLAAD nominations. Since turning her attention to writing, she has published two crime thriller novels: Premonition and its sequel Retribution, which was released on July 25, 2023.

Links and Resources:

• Wendy Whitman
• Premonition and Retribution by Wendy Whitman
• “Murder is Murder: Lessons Learned from a Dog Meat Trade Survivor”
• @wendywhitmanauthor on Instagram
• Wendy Whitman on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 1999. I’m attending Pepperdine University for my MBA program when I ask myself, “What else can I do?”

I decide to learn computer programming at UCLA. In my first class there, I’m sitting in a room filled with other students and realize two things:

First, I’m one of only three female students in a class of over 40 people. And second, I love everything about this training and want to learn more!

So I start reading books and learning as fast as I can, noticing all the while that there aren’t many female authors and role models in tech. Yet, I’m still hungry to learn as much as I can and want to accelerate my training.

Thanks to a magazine ad, I sign up for the Web 99 Conference in San Francisco and listen in fascination to Lynda Weinman talk about Flash technology. It makes me realize that I want to do this for my career.

I walk up to her after her Talk to introduce myself and discover she’s holding her first-ever workshop on Flash in Ojai, California. She personally invites me to sign up, and I go for it!

Thanks to Lynda’s guidance, I move from that workshop to teaching classes for her, writing two books on Flash technology, running a Flash-focused tech event, and co-founding my own software company.

My story changed just from casually taking a computer class in college… and all because someone believed in and opened doors for me. And my special guest today has made it his business to do the same for others.

Mike Roberts helps underrepresented people break into tech and companies build high-performance engineering teams out of often overlooked talent. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how creating opportunities for the marginalized can change the trajectory of their story and get answers to questions like:

Why does storytelling help those with social anxiety? How does having different skill sets affect the future of your story’s path? And why is software engineering both a science and, like storytelling, an art?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How being a trailblazer can influence other people’s stories (even for generations)
• How learning to tell stories is like learning how to play an instrument
• Why it’s better to tell your story in the present tense

Who is Mike?

Mike Roberts is the founder and CEO of Creating Coding Careers (CCC), an innovative nonprofit organization committed to diversifying the tech community and creating equitable opportunities for individuals pursuing a career in the industry. He is passionate about helping underrepresented people break into tech and helping companies build high-performance engineering teams out of often-overlooked talent.

Mike has launched more than 100 student careers and has grads working at IBM/RedHat, Apple, WalmartLabs, Sony, AWS, Facebook, Deloitte, and many more amazing tech companies. His superpower is helping gritty people grow and get better at writing quality software.

Links and Resources:

• Creating Coding Careers
• @merobertsjr on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m on the last day of a five-day, 12-hour daily intensive Improv class at The Annoyance Theatre. Our instructor comes in and has us count off by threes. Once that’s done, he instructs us to find everyone else with the same number. Then he tells us:

“Whoever’s in your group, you all are now an Improv team. And you’re going to perform tonight live on the main stage for a public audience.”

I’m thinking, “These teams are made up of people I barely know.” They come from all around the world with different backgrounds, styles, strengths, and varying levels of Improv experience.

And that’s when I realize that’s what's so cool about this whole thing! We can bring all that to the table in our performance. My made-up-on-the-spot team and I spend the rest of the day creating, refining, rehearsing, and doing it over again, based on our collective suggestions and ideas as a collective.

That night, when we hit the stage and show our stuff, it’s a huge success. And I know a big part of it is due to the collective diversity of the group and the openness to learning from each other as well as respecting and honoring everyone’s contribution.

Speaking of spotlights and collectives, today’s special guest, Lindsay Ravage, is a veteran of the Improv community in addition to working as an actress. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, she’s here to dive into how the world of Improv can influence you as a storyteller and answer questions such as:

Why are you already an experienced Improv storyteller, even if you’ve never performed it on a stage? How does having trust in others influence the ability to create a bigger story? Why is it so important for kids at a young age to learn how to express themselves and be creative in telling stories? And how do shared experiences make for powerful storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why saying “yes” opens the door for new stories to occur
• How an audience’s response to your narrative can affect your storytelling in real-time
• Why having a first-person point of view makes your story more interesting

Who is Lindsay?

Growing up just outside of New York City, Lindsay Ravage fell in love with the stage at a young age. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California’s Theatre School and studied at the esteemed British Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She is also a graduate of The Second City Conservatory program and UCB Improv program and has performed Improv all over Los Angeles in various Improvisation and sketch troupes. In addition to still acting in commercials and television, she has worked as a casting associate for some of the most successful commercial casting offices in Los Angeles.

Lindsay has also worked with children most of her adult life. But she felt there was a lack of theatre classes in the L.A. area for her own kids. Wanting to create a fun and creative outlet for non-professional kids, she started Tiny Spotlight--Los Angeles’ premiere children’s theater academy that offers musical theater, Improv, and sketch comedy classes to kids aged 3-11.

These classes are taught by top-notch directors in a real theatre setting. They’re designed as fun-filled performance experiences to build confidence and let kids know that their ideas are important and what they have to say matters. Tiny Spotlight classes are held at the charming Two Roads Theater in Little Tujunga Village in the heart of Studio City, California, and at The Pico Theatre in West LA.

Links and Resources:

• Tiny Spotlight
• @tinyspotlight on Instagram
• @tinyspotlight on Facebook
• The Annoyance Theatre & Bar
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s circa 2010 and I’m running the software company I co-founded with my husband Mark. One of our clients is among the largest advertising agencies in the world and they’re preparing a big pitch for Nike. The stakes couldn’t be higher for them to win this business.

Since our software creates communities and includes a customized matching engine, the Chief Strategy Officer uses it to search for all worldwide employees of his agency who have a passion for photography and clubbing. He finds them instantly within a couple of clicks and gives them a challenge:

“Tonight, go to the clubs in your area and take pictures of all the trainers you see.” He wants them to photograph people’s sneakers at the clubs in Berlin, Tokyo, Budapest… wherever they may be.

By Monday, they’re able to use those photos to show Nike that they’re able to activate a global community to come together in this way… and also that they have a pulse on what’s happening in youth culture around the world. This way, they can influence what happens next in Nike’s story.

Speaking of activating global communities, my guest today, Tyler Skinner, has also spent a good part of her career focusing on bringing women together to create something for the greater good. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how making connections (whether it’s two or three people or more) can be life-changing for a person or a business and get answers to questions such as:

How do you take a dire situation and use it to influence or change the stories of others (or create a new one for yourself)? Why is vulnerability as a storyteller not always about sharing sad things? And what can happen when you put your story out there for the first time?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How ripples can turn into waves that expand the stories of multiple people
• How to shake yourself out of a story you no longer want to experience
• How naming your year can have a significant impact on you and your story

Who is Tyler?

Tyler is the CVO and Founder of Connected Communities and Women Making Waves and also serves as President for the Central Coast Chapter of NAWBO (National Organization for Women Business Owners). As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, she has reinvented herself again and again to create and cultivate connections and community collaborations that enhance social & cultural shifts by bringing people together to believe in something bigger than themselves and to see the magic in motivating others.

During the 2020 pandemic, she launched the platform Women Making Waves as a leadership development program of dedicated women committed to co-creating a future where they can personally & professionally emerge to lead in a new way. Tyler is building a revolution of women through curated workshops, events, and adventures to allow women to see, do, and be more because women deserve to be supported and seen.

Links and Resources:

Women Making Waves | @women.making.waves on Instagram

Connected Communities

National Organization for Women Business Owners (NAWBO) - Central Coast

Tyler Skinner (coming soon) | @thetylerskinner on Instagram

Storytelling School Podcast: “How to Name Your Year”

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2018. I’m working with a Syrian-born American filmmaker named Sam to get him ready to hit the TEDx stage. We’re forming the foundation of his Talk--his idea worth spreading--when I ask him, “Why was making this particular film so important to you?”

And he responds, “It’s imperative to amplify the voices of what Syrians are going through. Their voices are muted right now and giving voice to the voiceless should be an obligation. That’s why people literally risked their lives to make this film.”

With that, we have his idea worth spreading: For society to survive, the voices of repressed people must be revived.

By the way, Sam’s film, Little Gandhi, becomes the first official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film and goes on to win several awards.

And most importantly of all, Sam’s willingness to stand up for and speak on what he believes has changed individual and collective stories around the world...which leads me to my special guest today!

Lynn Andrews is a versatile artist who has been standing up for what she believes, literally. As a singer, actress, and writer, she has a stake in bringing stories to life as part of her life’s work and is fresh off the picket line protesting as part of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, listen in as she and I dive into the idea of using your story to stand up and speak up, whether your voice matters at all, and how to influence the stories that are told. You’ll also discover the answer to questions such as:

What’s it like participating in a community of storytellers standing up for themselves? What’s one thing you need to be mindful of as you speak up for your cause during a protest or strike? What opportunity can you choose to take with an Improv performance, beyond the humor? And why does your profession not matter when it comes to storytelling?

And along the way, you’ll hear about trimmed trees, strongly-worded umbrellas, memorable theater moments, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why your voice matters in changing an unfolding story
• Why people sometimes hesitate to speak up with their story
• How to get an audience to love a villainous character

Who is Lynn?

Lynn Andrews, an artist excelling as an actor, singer, and writer, was born in Denver, Colorado. Her passion for the arts led her to pursue training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. Lynn won the coveted role of Miss Hannigan in the national tour of Annie. The New York Times praised her, saying she "has a wonderful way with a shimmy." During her time in New York, Lynn showcased her singer-songwriter abilities as one-third of the girl group The Shirtwaist Sisters, highlighted by the NPR Tiny Desk competition.

In 2017, Lynn made her way to Los Angeles, where she appeared in popular television shows like The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and Dead To Me, as well as the critically acclaimed film The Dark and the Wicked. Her recent appearances on The Resident and American Auto continue to solidify her status as an accomplished and skillful performer.

Links and Resources:

• @fakelynnandrews on Instagram
• @fakelynnandrews on Tik Tok
• The Shirtwaist Sisters on Spotify
• The Annoyance Theatre & Bar
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m a sixth grader with a dream: I want to be Student Body President. So I get to work on dazzling my fellow students, relentlessly preparing and rehearsing every word of my speech for days and days, night after night… even into the early mornings.

And then, the big day arrives. It’s time to give my speech! I’m sitting onstage with two other candidates. Both of them deliver their speeches to huge applause from the student body.

Suddenly, I’m next up, and I’m shaking! I nervously get up from my chair, make my way to the podium, place my prepared speech in front of me, and start reading.

A few paragraphs in, I notice the restlessness in the auditorium. Some students are looking around the room, others are beginning to talk to their neighbor, and there’s even one guy, Stu, asleep in the front row!

I can’t believe what I’m seeing! Instead of treading on with what isn’t working, I take my speech, crumple it up, and throw it onto the floor.

Then, I start speaking from my heart... and I hear a smattering of applause. As I continue, the applause gets louder and louder until the entire audience jumps to their feet.

I learn a valuable lesson: stop trying to be something you’re not. Just be yourself and share your ideas and what you feel in the moment. That way, you’re memorable in a way others can’t ignore!

My guest today, Intae Kim, has lived his life being memorable while bringing various film and TV characters to life. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, he’s here to share how doing the unexpected differentiates you from other speakers and storytellers and allows you to reap the greatest benefits. He also answers questions such as:

What attribute is at the core of your audience feeling connected to you? And what does it take to make people fall in love with you as a storyteller?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to honor the truth in your story in a way that activates you and your audience
• What one aspect gets other people invested in your story
• Why some stories fall flat and don’t work

Who is Intae?

Growing up in the Boston area, Intae Kim was preternaturally interested in stories. As a voracious reader, social parrot, and frequent make-believer, Intae loved learning more about our world and exploring imaginary ones whenever he had the chance. These passions only grew stronger after he traveled across the country. Not only did his initial pursuit of a Cognitive Studies major at UC Berkeley eventually morph into dual degrees in English and Theater, but his subsequent move to Los Angeles led to a career in the Performing Arts.

Intae's first big splash in Hollywood took the form of a scene-stealing turn in Monday, a short film that went on to win first place in HBO’s inaugural APA Visionaries Competition. Since then, he has worked on stage, on screen, and in the voiceover booth on projects as varied as Fargo (FX), How to Get Away With Murder (ABC), Succession (HBO), and Tom Clancy’s The Division: Hearts On Fire (Audible). He is grateful for the chance to tell stories for a living and to continue learning more about our world and exploring imaginary ones.

Links and Resources:

• @theintaenet on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m walking off the stage after giving a Keynote at a Southern California university. A few of the audience members make their way over to me.

“Kymberlee,” one of them says, “Your presentation was so captivating! I was glued to your every word.”

I worked very hard on this particular Talk, so getting this feedback feels amazing! And as I’m driving away from the event, I start thinking about what exactly made it so captivating.

Was it the stories I told? Or how I moved on stage? Or something else?

The analytical side of my brain kicks in and starts trying to reverse-engineer the Talk that earned me such a glowing review. And I realize that I made several critical choices that, joined together, form a blueprint for being captivating on stage.

So today on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn strategies to help you dial into your own captivation skills so you too can experience your audience’s unwavering attention. You’ll also discover:

What mistake do many speakers and storytellers make when beginning their presentation? How can you stop your audience in their tracks right away? How do you use visuals to enhance (and not take away from) your audience’s experience? What’s one captivation technique that many speakers and storytellers aren’t taught? And how do you “earn the right to deliver the next section” of your Talk to your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to use storytelling to maintain your audience’s attention throughout your Talk
• How different delivery techniques and vocal variety can keep your audience engaged
• How to keep your audience engaged through the use of exercises

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m invited to a very high-level martial arts seminar to provide communications training to the attendees. These attendees are not your average martial artists, however: they train governments and militaries all over the world. And they’ve all gathered here for this event.

Tommy, the person running the event, starts the morning by having everyone gather around him. He reaches into his duffel bag, pulls something out, and holds it in front of each person, inviting them to take a calculated risk.

Silence. But then, slowly, one by one they all rise to the challenge… until there’s just one person left in the room who hasn’t tried it yet.

Me.

Even though I’m not here to show off any martial arts skills, everyone’s eyes are still on me because they know I’m a martial artist, too. And now everyone is waiting - and watching - to see what I’m going to do next.

So what exactly was this experiment, and how did I respond to the challenge? Today on the Storytelling School Podcast, we mix things up with a brand new “Exploring Stories” master series where I dive into one aspect of storytelling or a piece of a story and show how you can use these insights, tools, and perspective to take your storytelling to the next level. And in this episode, I reveal the calculated risk that I (and the other martial artists) took that day and the powerful lesson it taught me. I’ll also teach you:

Why do calculated risks make for such great stories to tell? And what’s the one caveat you need to be careful of when it comes to storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What kinds of calculated risks you can take as a speaker or storyteller
• How you can enter into a story and its lesson
• How your story can have multiple lessons (and what influences which lesson you teach)

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at a TED event when Sarah Silverman takes the stage. She launches into her comedy set and as she gets going, I notice something interesting.

A couple of jokes in, some people in the audience are already laughing hysterically. But others are fidgeting and looking uncomfortable with some of her content.

My husband Mark turns to me and says, “Stand-up comedy is hard.” I agree and whisper back, “Yeah - that’s why they invented Dad jokes. That’s much easier - they’re like training wheels for laughter.”

Stand-up on the other hand is another league and I’d rather leave to the professionals - like my special guest today.

Emily Walsh is a stand-up comedian who performs all over the world. And today on the Storytelling School Podcast, she shares how the worlds of comedy and story intertwine from her perspective. In this episode, you’ll hear about approaches to comedy shows and being a different version of yourself on stage (even if just slightly), as well as hear answers to questions such as:

How do you navigate the challenging waters of potentially offensive jokes to your audience? What role does story play in comedic content creation? How can you ease people into your jokes and get them comfortable with you as you tell your story? And what’s the one thing you don’t want to leave your audience with?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What the first thing is that you must learn in any performance or presentation
• How to discover the kind of material that will work for your audience most of the time
• What you can do to re-engage a disengaged part of your audience

Who is Emily?

Emily Walsh is a comedian who performs nightly in bars and comedy clubs across New York City. Originally from Boston, Emily moved to New York City after college to pursue her dream of painting scenery for theatre, film and television. She still paints sometimes because comedy doesn’t provide health insurance.

Emily was recently featured on Kevin Hart’s Lyft Comics on Peacock. Her festival credits include HBO’s Women in Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, West End Festival in Atlanta, Boston Comedy Festival, the Out of Bounds Festival in Austin, and the Rogue Island Comedy Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. She also co-hosts the podcast Alone at Lunch, part of the Morbid podcast network on Wondery, and hosts and co-produces a monthly show at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn called Golden Ticket.

Links and Resources:

• Alone at Lunch
• Yeet the Rich
• @thefunnywalsh on Instagram
• @thefunnywalsh on Tik Tok
• @thefunnywalsh on Twitter
• @thefunnywalsh on Youtube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at an Improv class doing a scene with a partner when the instructor stops us. He says to me, “When you think about your character you just acted out, what was their point of view? What was their philosophy?”

I’m thinking, “Philosophy?! This is Improv! I barely know my character’s name, let alone what my character’s philosophy is.” I tell him that I have no idea.

And then he gives me a piece of advice that has stuck with me: knowing your character’s philosophy, point of view, or how they see the world will influence what you say, how you say it, your voice, your body language--everything.

Even though in Improv we don’t have any time to set up a whole backstory for our character, just having that awareness of their philosophy helps you as a performer. It changed me. And my special guest today, Jillian Paige, lives in the world of perspective from the point of view of a classically-trained singer, actress, and instructor.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about how you can take performance training to a whole new level in your storytelling (or anything you do). We’ll also answer questions like:

What is the Meisner technique, and how is it similar and different to Improv? How can repetition help ground and calm you before a performance or audition? How can you practice avoiding inattentional blindness when speaking or performing? And what is the “liking gap” and how can you use it in your storytelling to take it to the next level?

Along the way, you’ll hear about Marlon Brando’s influence on Hollywood acting, the operatic singer who cried from letting go, the 90-second audition gone wrong, and so much more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How using the Meisner technique can affect the story you experience
• How Meisner can help you move past the story of not feeling good enough
• Why a “f*$% it” mentality can be crucial to keeping your audience engaged

Who is Jillian?

Jillian Paige is the Founder of Meisner in Music, the premier class to infuse the Meisner technique with singing. Jillian received her master’s in music theatre from Oklahoma City University, her bachelor’s in classical vocal performance from Belmont University, and studied Meisner under Terry Martin (a direct pupil of Meisner’s) and Ted Wold.

Jillian is based out of New York City and has performed with companies such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Nashville Opera, and Kentucky Opera. She is passionate about helping singers maintain beautiful singing while achieving emotional freedom and impulsivity in the moment.

Links and Resources:

• Meisner in Music
• @MeisnerinMusic on Instagram
• @meisnerinmusic on Tik Tok
• @JillianPaige on Instagram
• “Inattentional Blindness” | Youtube
• “The Liking Gap” | Psychology Today
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2003. I’m at my very first TED event and I’m in the computer industry. Over a period of five days, I’m not hearing typical presentations on one subject matter. Instead, I am listening to Talks about nanotechnology, robotics, cancer cure research, and a variety of other topics that I never would have had access to otherwise.

At first I’m thinking that these Talks are way over my head. Yet soon I find that my exposure to these ideas help me build a completely new point of view around my company and how I treat family, friends, and clients. These influences stick with me and I still practice them to this day.

When you take lessons from one field of study and apply them to another, it can explode your momentum in your field of expertise. For instance, I’d hear a TED Talk on creativity and approach a project differently with that in mind. Or I’d slightly change the nature of a conversation with a client because of what I’d heard about a new development in artificial intelligence.

These are what I call lateral lessons. And you can do the same thing, too--use lateral lessons to help build out your body of work and what you offer to the world.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the lateral lessons that the world of Improv can teach you so you can apply these lessons in your life. I’ll teach you these concepts through stories of backstage preparations, spilled tea, and the danger of doing Improv. And you’ll also find out answers to questions like:

What concept helps you stop paralysis by analysis when you’re about to present or perform? How can you make certain parts of your presentation (or your life or business story) more interesting? And what goes on in the mind of an Improv performer?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What simple gesture sparks connection and security for a presenter or performer
• How one change can lead to changing everything about what you do
• What it means to prepare (but not plan) as a speaker, performer, or storyteller

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m meeting with one of my clients. And she says to me, “Kymberlee, every time I ask you, ‘How are you doing?’ you always say, ‘I’m amazing.’ How is that possible, and how can I do it too?”

It’s simple. I tell her, “I’ve designed my life around everything I love to do.”

I love speaking, and I know that the best ones are great storytellers. I’ve gone from not knowing where to start with a story to doubling down on it and having it as a core component of what I do and teach...

I heard that Improv Comedy improves you as a speaker. And now I’ve gone from shaking with fear before I even got on stage for my first Improv class to teaching it every week and performing it multiple times a month...

I’ve been an athlete all my life and use the lessons I’ve learned from over 30 years as a martial artist to influence how I teach and how I see the world...

All of these career choices haven’t happened by chance. I’ve basically designed my future. And you can do it too.

My special guest today, Dane Howard, is an entrepreneur who has led teams around the world in designing world-class products for services and brands. And today on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how design can inspire a plethora of stories and hear answers to questions like:

Why does design force you to become a better storyteller? What’s it like to be in the process of redefining your current story? How can visualizing allow you to extract and string parts of your story together? And how do companies like eBay and Amazon develop stories for their products and brands?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What journey lines are and how they relate to storytelling
• Why rehearsing the future is required to become a great designer and storyteller
• How using AI can help you bring implausible stories to life

Who is Dane?

Dane is a strategic design leader & entrepreneur, willing to wear many hats. He’s led globally distributed teams for world-class products, services, and brands and served in principal design, operational, and leadership roles for companies like BMW, MLB, Microsoft, eBay, Samsung, Amazon, and more. Since 2015, he’s launched global experiences in several companies and led and grown remote and distributed teams. And all the while, he focused on scaling the design process across multiple business domains for growth-stage companies and beyond.

Dane is also an author, speaker, artist, and father. He launched Dane Howard Studio in early 2023, which is a collaborative studio specializing in generative AI, design, and fine art for commercial and residential projects across apparel, fashion, sports, and exhibit design. He is also an advisor to standbeautiful.me, an anti-bullying movement promoting the acceptance of self and others.

Links and Resources:

• Dane Howard
• Dane Howard Studio
• @implausible_creatures on Instagram
• @danehoward on Linked
• Stand Beautiful
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My husband Mark and I are back in California after our Hawaiian vacation. We loved the kayak adventure we had there, so we decide to get a two-person kayak.

But not just any kayak. We need one that’s built for speed. It’s not as stable as others, but it’s going to go fast and be so exciting!

We take this kayak out on a maiden voyage and, after tipping over into the ocean a couple of times, we get the hang of it. We’re having the best time paddling, and we go several miles out. So far out that the shore looks like a speck of land...

Then I feel it.

Something has hit the bottom of the kayak. What the?? I think, “We’re in the middle of nowhere. How could we have hit something?”

I keep paddling... and it happens again. BUMP!

Mark says he sees… A FIN, and we go silent and still.

If we tip over again, we’re done. The shark bumping into our boat is going to get us, and no one will ever know what happened because we’re so far offshore.

And all of a sudden, the creature jumps out of the water, spins, and goes back in. And another. And another...

We’re inside a pod of 40 or 50 dolphins! What was a terrifying moment becomes magical!

Sometimes in life, what scares us turns out to be a gift that not only changes the story of our experience, but also the lessons we learn so we can help others.

Speaking of stories changing our experience, my special guest today, Adrienne Smith, is an athlete and entrepreneur who has had that happen, many times over. Adrienne is building an intuition-based wellness movement. And in this episode of the Storytelling School podcast, you’ll learn lessons about the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we can create in this world, through her experiences.

Plus, you’ll hear her stories about rowing across the Pacific with a four-person team, earning Adrienne a world record title, and how her daughter recently reiterated the feebleness of trying to force things, along with answers to questions like:

What’s an example of a mindset shift that changes your story when things aren’t working out? How can you create stories in even the most unusual and uncomfortable situations? How can incorporating storytelling change you as a public speaker? And what can you do to visualize in a way that’ll help you create the future story you want to see happen?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How circumstances can sometimes redirect you to change your story
• Why force can just complicate things and make your story take longer to unfold
• How listening influences the story you tell other people

Who is Adrienne?

As a mom, athlete, and business owner, Adrienne Smith has an appreciation for the strategies necessary to overcome obstacles and reach success. Drawing on firsthand knowledge of how it feels to be stuck when striving to accomplish goals, she is enthusiastic about sharing systems that help others transform anxiety, get organized and motivated, and most importantly, reignite a passion for life.

Adrienne is building a movement of expanded awareness to cure the personal energy crisis in our world through creative connection, storytelling, and intuition-based wellness programs. She helps individuals and teams make the seemingly impossible possible - like she demonstrated by setting a new World Record rowing across the Pacific Ocean with her team.

Links and Resources:

• Aligned Living Now
• @theadriennesmith on Instagram
• @poweradrienne on Facebook
• @theadriennesmith on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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At the age of 101, my grandmother, Beverly’s, dementia is really starting to show. I’m over at her house one day when her new social worker comes by.

I hear him talking to one of her caregivers in the other room. She says to him, “Sometimes Beverly says she wants to go home. Yet, she’s in her own home. So when Beverly says that, we just tell her, ‘You ARE home.’ But it doesn’t really register.”

He responds, “Beverly is simply looking for a safe space. So rather than trying to battle with her, all you need to do is remind Beverly that she is 100% safe and everything is fine.”

As I listen to this conversation, I find myself smiling and feeling happy that she has someone besides myself advocating for her... and someone helping the caregivers too, offering them a different perspective instead of telling them that they’re doing it wrong.

My guest today, Dr. Karen Federici, also advocates on behalf of others. She’s an award-winning family physician and an expert in breastfeeding. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear all about her story on advocating for others and answers to questions like:

How is your Talk enhanced when you use story versus when you don’t? What role does storytelling play in the work that doctors do, and how can healthcare professionals integrate it into their own work? And what can you do to redirect the story you’re hearing from those you serve in your profession to better help them?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How a story not going to plan can set you up for a new (and even better) story
• How other people’s unhelpful advice can hinder your emerging story
• Why sometimes the real story isn’t where the main focus is

Who is Dr. Federici?

Inspired by her own experience as a new mother, Karen Federici, MD saw a genuine need for doctors who championed breastfeeding. So she became that doctor, leaving her career as an actuary behind. Now, she’s an award-winning physician and breastfeeding expert.

Dr. Federici founded Family First, a practice centering around primary care for women and children and breastfeeding medicine, after completing her residency in 2006. Recently, she founded TeleLact which provides expert lactation support through telehealth to expand access to quality care for breastfeeding moms. Last year, she opened the first and only donor human milk dispensary in her region.

As part of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and with a certification in family medicine, Dr. Federici volunteers as a clinical preceptor, teaching breastfeeding medicine to students and fellow physicians. Not enough families have access to a doctor with knowledge on breastfeeding. So she likes to direct them to her TEDx Talk to help spread the word so that they can positively impact breastfeeding, advocate for themselves, and encourage their doctors to seek more education on the subject.

Links and Resources:

• TeleLact
• Family First
• Dr. Federici’s TEDx Talk
• @dr.karen.federici on Instagram
• @telelact247 on Facebook
• Dr. Federici on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m working with a client in one of my Mastermind programs. She asks, “Kymberlee, what’s the difference between a story that we will remember versus one we will forget?”

At that moment, I can choose to hit the surface level and talk about story elements… or I can go deeper and talk about the science.

I choose to get all science-y. And once I’m done going in-depth with my answer, she says it’s given her a completely new understanding of the power of storytelling (woohoo)!

Today on the Storytelling School podcast, join me as we dive headfirst into exploring the scientific principles that give storytelling the mesmerizing power to captivate us all. I reveal some mind-blowing facts about storytelling and answer questions such as:

What exactly makes stories so irresistible? How is storytelling like a high-stakes poker game? How does the power of storytelling go beyond entertainment, and what intellectual benefits does it provide? Why have stories been used throughout history to inspire change? And how has technology shaped the landscape of storytelling?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What key ingredients (honed over centuries) keep you hooked on stories
• How your brain helps you attain an emotional connection to storytelling
• How storytelling has made an impact in different domains

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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It’s Tuesday morning, and I’m so excited! I’m leading a storytelling workshop for a group of speakers and entrepreneurs who give presentations as part of the work they do. To start, I ask all of them what their objectives are for the training.

One person raises their hand and says, “I really need help with rehearsing.” Two other participants agree... and it seems odd to me.

Rehearsals have been such an important part of my life since I was a kid, whether it was training for a big softball game or a martial arts test.

It’s the same with preparing for a big speaking engagement, so I’m surprised to hear how many people struggle with the rehearsal process. And after discussing it with the group a bit, I quickly realize that not everyone shares my passion (or obsession - ha!) for rehearsing.

What happens next?

Join me in the continuation of the “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” master series as I share my simple rehearsal rituals you can use to prepare yourself for a speech or story presentation. You’ll hear answers to questions like:

Where can you practice, and how do you create a practice zone for your speech or story? How long and how often should you practice? Why do you need to plan practice sessions? Should you practice your Talk or story with an audience or not? And what are some effective ways to practice your presentation?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to plan practicing your Talk or story (and how using stickie notes can help)
• What you should (and shouldn’t) do two weeks before your presentation
• Why performance needs to be a key part of practicing your speech or story

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, nicknamed Moo. We always had fun; we’d play, make things up, sing songs, write poems… just be creative together.

As she gets older, though, and reaches 100 years old, she develops dementia. Sometimes she’s with us and other times not. I go over to her house one afternoon, and she’s super happy and pleasant and lovely... yet she doesn’t know who I am. And I’m her only grandchild!

I start to get a little frustrated because I want that connection with Moo again. So I begin to bring up things from our past and ask her if she remembers what we did together.

Did she remember rolling down the hill together at La Brea Tar Pits? Or that time we made a crazy salad and water went everywhere?

She doesn’t.

As I grasp for more things, I recall one song she taught me that has two verses. One verse is very slow and methodical, the other goes very, very fast, and they’re meant to be sung by two people in tandem.

So I start singing the fast verse. And pretty soon without any prodding, Moo starts singing the slow verse. And for that one moment, we connect again, sharing a reality with both of us present that melts my heart.

That’s the power of music. It can stop time. My special guest today, Laura Hall, has spent a career in music, song, and sound. In this episode of the Storytelling School podcast, she talks about finding your voice in storytelling through her lens of Musical Improv and answers questions like:

What drives a scene in an Improv story when it’s combined with music--the scene or the song? When can Improv help you with your audience as a speaker or storyteller, (in non-Improv situations)? How does variety make you a better storyteller? And how can you start sharing your stories and ensure that you get helpful feedback?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How music and Improv work together to bring stories to life
• Why finding and connecting to the truth of your story is vital for audience reception
• What you can do to change the fear story you’re telling yourself before a performance

Who is Laura?

Laura Hall got her start as an Improv Musician performing with The Second City National Touring Company of Chicago. While in Chicago, she worked with almost every Improv theater in town and used Improv to create original musicals at The Annoyance Theater. She also played in cover and original bands, did solo piano work, played recording sessions, and taught at The Old Town School of Music.

After moving to Los Angeles, Laura studied music for film and television and focused on songwriting and original musicals with Theater-A-Go-Go. She has worked with several Improv groups worldwide such as Second City Hollywood, iO West, and others, and taught Music Improv extensively with her husband Rick Hall.

Laura performed on every season of the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? with hosts Clive Anderson, Drew Carey, and Aisha Tyler. She’s also toured extensively with Drew Carey and the Improv All Stars, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall and a USO tour of the Middle East. In addition, she’s performed with Whose Line Live at the Adelphi, the Palladium, and Royal Albert Hall theatres in London. You can find out more about Laura on her website.

Links and Resources:

• Laura Hall
• @laurahallmusic on Instagram
• @LauraHallMusic on Facebook
• @LauraHallMusic on Twitter
• @laurahall2306 on Youtube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m 12 years old. It’s summertime, and we’re on our annual family trip to Bainbridge Island off the coast of Seattle. I love going on these trips, and one of my favorite things about them is getting to see family friends Bob and Denise perform in a different play.

This particular summer they’re doing The Pirates of Penzance. After the show is over, Bob and Denise walk up to me and ask, “Kymberlee, what was your favorite part?”

I’m thinking that since they’re both in it, I don’t really want to pick sides. So I talk about everything: the amazing set design, Bob’s incredible costume, Denise’s epic singing, the cool set, the fantastic dancing, the memorable characters...

After each mention, Bob and Denise just stare at me. But I can’t pick just one thing; I love it all! Years later, I realize that what I loved most was…

The live experience of story!

Seeing it played out right in front of my eyes and ears made each story unforgettable.

My special guest today, Mary Lauren, tells stories in multifaceted ways. She directs them, writes them, produces them, performs them, and choreographs them. And in this episode of the Storytelling School podcast, we dive into her tips and techniques on bringing stories to life with questions like:

How do you know if a particular story you want to tell is important? What should you always do when you get handed a script for your role? What’s the benefit of playing darker characters? And what can you do when you’re struggling to connect to your story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How you can bring truth to a character in your story
• What storytelling aspect can initially stymie a new storyteller
• Why listening is the key to everything as a performer and storyteller

Who is Mary?

Mary Lauren is a passionate and multifaceted artist who loves to tell stories. She has had work seen Off-Broadway and regionally as a director, writer, performer, producer, and choreographer. She’s a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Mary has written several new works, in addition to choreographing and acting as the lead dancer in the short film Dream of Spring (which has been featured in festivals all over the world). Some other acting credits include: The Last 5 Years, Gypsy, Sarah Was Mine, Sophia!, My Shadow and Me, and Hamlet.

For almost 20 years, Mary has directed and educated artists. As artistic director of Heart String Theatrical, she created the streaming live/filmed piece Loving You Always. Her cabarets have raised money for artists and for organizations including the NAACP and ACLU.

Mary also serves as the Youth Artistic Director at AMT Theatre, a new Off-Broadway Theater in Times Square. She loves working with young artists and finds inspiration from their exuberance and stories. Over 50 productions with young artists have been directed by her including original pieces and published works like Seussical, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, and more.

Links and Resources:

• Mary Lauren
• @MaryLaurenW on Instagram
• @MaryLaurenOnline on Facebook
• AMT Theatre
• @HeartStringTheatrical on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I'm a high school freshman. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning on a school day and I can't sleep, so I get up and wander into our living room.

My Dad’s in there taking notes and reviewing video footage of our rival softball team we’re set to play later that day. He’s the head coach of our varsity team and often sends someone to scout out the opponent, so this is a common scene in our household.

I say to him, “Dad, why do you spend so much time researching other teams?”

“Because the more effort you put in behind the scenes, the more success you’ll have when it’s game time,” he explains.

That knowledge bomb was spot on and Dad was right. All those nights and obsessing over the details was worth it since we never lost a single in-league game over the four years I played high school softball. Crazy, right?!?

And my special guest today, Marc Bonanni, knows all about research and dissecting what works when it comes to storytelling.

In this episode of the Storytelling School podcast, we explore breakdowns and deep dives of story using his encyclopedic knowledge of everything Broadway and Musical Theatre. Marc also answers questions like:

What’s the difference between film and theater regarding what’s essential to make a story? What can you use as a performer to make your storytelling successful? Why has Marvel Studios succeeded with their stories when others have failed (and in what way do their movies resemble musicals)? And what makes a character work well (or not work at all)?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What your responsibility is as a storyteller
• How the public mindset can affect the success of a story
• How decades-old, discarded stories can take on new life

Who is Marc?

Marc Bonanni is a Musical Theatre Historian based in Brooklyn, NY. He has a beautiful wife who works on Broadway and two amazing, if dramatic, daughters. His YouTube channel, Broadway By Ghostlight, has featured several Broadway and television favorites and is slowly growing to become a favorite among the theater crowd. When not knee-deep in editing his videos, Marc is usually attending a Broadway show or napping.

Links and Resources:

• Broadway By Ghostlight on YouTube
• @BwayGhostlight on Twitter
• @BwayGhostlight on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My husband Mark and I are at a venue about to give a presentation on the new software application we’ve developed. It's a big deal! We’re in our hometown with a room full of people waiting, and this is the first time we’re showing off what we’ve created.

Standing at the front of the room and getting ready to start, we’re plugging in our computers to test everything, and…

There’s no internet?!?

Our software needs the internet to run so we start panicking.

The audience is getting restless now because we’re late in starting our presentation.

Trying to maintain our composure, Mark and I decide to switch to our PowerPoint presentation which we’ve worked on for weeks and weeks.

We fire up the projector and… the light bulb isn’t working and we can’t see our slides!

People are running around the room now, trying to get the internet up and the projector working. Cue mild-to-escalating freaking out mode.

So I take Mark behind the curtain, put my hands on his shoulders, and say, “I know everything’s going wrong, and I’ve got your back. Let’s just.. tell our story.”

We come back out to face the audience and tell them the story of how we created our software application, why it matters and what our vision is for its future.

And… it turns out to be a huge success!

In this installment of the “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” series, I dive deep into how public speakers can use storytelling to capture an audience’s attention and answer so many good questions like:

How can a personal story help you build rapport in your audience right away? How does storytelling help make meaty content about dry subject matters in speeches and presentations more relatable and memorable? And how can you tell a story to an audience who shares an experience you’ve never had?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How voice changes, body language, and facial expressions enhance storytelling and audience engagement
• How storytelling helps establish and bolster your credibility
• How stories can be used to inspire action or motivate your audience to make a change

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

Storytelling School Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

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It’s 2002. I’ve just come up with a brilliant idea with someone I met at a networking event. We’re in the right place at the right time as this idea involves the creation of a software application that’s never been done before.

We get the greenlight to develop this software application for TED. But there’s a problem...

As a technologist who has written books on Flash programming, I have a vision for how this might work. Yet I’m not a designer.

However, I happen to be running a technology conference and know that the best designers and developers in the world are right there! So we ask for the best to come on board and help this idea take shape by creating an email titled, “Want to Play?” in the subject line.

Eight weeks later, we unveil this back-of-the-napkin idea to HUGE success! And it is 100% because of the design, interaction with the software, and what the experience felt like for clients.

My special guest today, Ryan Ford, has over two decades of experience as a professional, award-winning designer influencing the stories of products, companies, and brands. And today on the Storytelling School Podcast, he joins me to talk about how the world of design and the world of storytelling intertwine.

So if you’re curious to know:

What’s the difference between people’s perception of design and its reality? How can you cater your story to different audiences when pitching ideas? How does the design process itself parallel storytelling?

Then tune in as we cover it all. And along the way, you’ll be treated to stories involving anime, outcasts, an ice cream cone-licking sloth, and one movie studio’s ability to drive your emotions better than most businesses you’ll encounter.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why design and storytelling go hand-in-hand
• Why you should look at audience first, then story second
• How you can successfully reposition a long-told story with a simple change

Who is Ryan?

Ryan Ford is an accomplished designer and leader with over 24 years of design experience. He’s built design teams and helped businesses that have had significant cultural impact such as Chime, Deviantart, and Crunchyroll.

Among his many other acknowledgements, he received recognition from the California Senate for contributions to eco sustainability through design. Ryan focuses his time on authoring transformative design thought pieces and mentoring young designers, when not enjoying time in his day job or with his family.

Links and Resources:

• Ryan Ford
• Ryan’s article - “Design is not a formula, it’s an odyssey: replacing the Double Diamond”
• @ryanford on LinkedIn
• @ryanford on Medium
• @ryanford on Mastodon
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m lying in a hospital bed after my cement truck accident in Hawaii. While I survived, the doctor comes into the room and tells me that something didn’t:

“Kymberlee, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’ve lost your taste and smell forever.”

When I get released, I’m craving everything you can imagine. I want to smell and taste it all, especially chocolate chip cookies. But I can’t, and my friend says to me, “Why don’t you just eat rice cakes from now on? Doesn’t matter what you eat.”

So that’s what I do, for years and years. I kind of give up on the pleasure of food and eating.

But then I start dating a guy who happens to be a chef. He comes over to my house and is horrified at the contents of my fridge: Red Bull, PowerBars, and vodka. That’s all that’s in there! That was my diet at the time.

In the months and years to follow, he completely transforms my relationship with food. Instead of eating to survive, I learn to appreciate food again...

But not just any food. I notice how my body feels when I eat certain kinds of food and realize that what I put into my body matters. I start eating healthy food because I feel it nourishing my body in a way food hadn’t before.

My special guest today, Michael Kuech, also had a health scare that precipitated a change in his experience with food. Now, he has an entire business based on what you put on your plate.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we talk about food as a risk factor, why healthy eating can be easier (and more fun) than you think, and the emotional connectivity of the foods you choose.

If you’re curious to know:

How can you enjoy eating healthy as a measure to restore or keep your health story on the right track? What simple thing can you do right now to start rewriting your current eating story into a more healthy one? And how soon will you be able to tell the difference in your body and how you feel?

Then tune in to hear about the doctor visit that changed everything, the woman whose wedding ring wouldn’t fit, and much more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories you tell yourself can influence your eating habits
• Why adding a healthy eating story into your daily life can be quick, easy, and fun
• What you can do to break down your emotional connectivity to what you eat

Who is Michael?

Michael Kuech is a sought-after speaker who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 24. While recovering, his then-girlfriend Kristel helped boost his immunity with superfoods and a plant-based eating plan. Together, they started their B corp company Your Super--a company with a mission to improve people’s health with the power of super plants.

Your Super went from just the two of them in Kristel’s kitchen to an international community of over a million health-conscious enthusiasts that has sold products worth over $200 million. They work with small farmers to provide the cleanest superfood mixes, plant-based proteins, and organic snacks for everyday health, detoxing, immunity, hormone health, and gut support.

Michael has been featured on shows and in publications like The Doctors, Good Day L.A., CheddarTV, People, Well+ Good, Real Simple, Parade, InStyle, and more. Recently, he and Kristel were married and just welcomed their first mini-plant lover, a baby boy they named Leo. And when not residing in Los Angeles, they go wherever their farmers have an extra hammock.

Links and Resources:

• Your Super
• Your Super Life: 100+ Delicious, Plant-Based Recipes Made with Nature’s Most Powerful Superfoods by Kristel de Groot & Michael Kuech
• @kristelandmichael on Instagram
• @yoursuperfoods on Instagram
• Michael’s TEDx Talk - “One Big Threat to Humanity Is What’s On Our Plates”
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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At eight years old, my Dad is living on a farm in Illinois. It’s Christmas morning and time to open presents. His brother opens his first; it’s a new train set and he’s ecstatic!

But my Dad notices that there’s no gift with his name on it under the tree. Did he do something wrong? Are his parents upset with him?

These thoughts run through his head when his parents tell him, “Your gift is outside by the barn. Go ahead!” So my dad goes outside, and there’s a Shetland pony waiting for him!

Now, he’s never been around ponies. They don’t even have horses of any kind. Yet dad and this pony (who he names Captain) become the best of friends. They’re inseparable! He even teaches Captain how to shake hands!

Sixty years later, my Dad still tells me stories about the antics he and Captain got up to and the lessons he learned that still affect him to this day.

My special guest today is a pioneer in so many ways, and his own bond with a four-legged friend provided the spark to change his life and the lives of others. Duey Freeman is a licensed therapist and “horse whisperer” who not only has amassed stories through his own incredible life but is also changing the life stories of his clients.

In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, he talks about how his work helps those with stories involving attachment issues, we explore the relation between storytelling and relationship development, and he answers questions like:

Why are horses so good at helping those suffering from stories of traumatic events? And how are we physiologically affected by the stories we tell (or hear from others)?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How relationships in the wild affect stories of survival
• How storytelling can influence your nervous system
• What primarily causes attachment between two beings (in stories and real life)

Who is Duey?

As the co-founder of the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies, Duey Freeman is a sought-after teacher, trainer, licensed therapist, and equine professional worldwide. He developed and taught practical attachment and human development theories to thousands of university students. He also has nearly 80,000 direct client hours, supervises therapists and graduate students, and has people from all over the world come to study with him.

It was Duey’s bond with his beloved horse Jake (who passed away in 2015) that helped him embody tenderness, strength, and authenticity in his relations and work. He’s exploring new horizons in facilitating men’s growth work because, for him, Gestalt and Relational Horsemanship aren’t just approaches; they’re how he walks through the world. In addition, Duey does business and land consultations for new equine therapy sites.

Links and Resources:

• Duey Freeman
• Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies
• Colorado Ecotherapy Institute
• @dueyfreeman on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m running TEDx Santa Barbara in 2017 with my husband Mark. Our committee is gathering to select the speakers for the upcoming event, and we’re going through hundreds of applications.

One particular application stands out with a bold statement. It claims that half of all blindness in the world is just a 10-minute surgery away from being cured.

That’s an idea that absolutely deserves to be heard far and wide. But is it real? Is it actually possible?

To find out, we interview the doctor behind the idea and discover that not only is it real, but it’ll change cataract surgery as we know it! We have to invite him to speak!

And now, I’ve invited that doctor onto the Storytelling School podcast. In this episode, I talk with special guest Dr. Jeffrey Levenson about what he shared back in 2017, what has changed since, and the remarkable story behind his passion for affordable and accessible cataract surgery to all. He answers questions like:

How does the rate of blindness in poor communities affect the story of those around them? What happened to him recently that changed the trajectory of his story and that of a thousand people (and potentially more)? What are doctors doing overseas for just $50 to change the story for blind people in poor countries (and is it happening in the U.S., too)?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How changing the story of poor, blind people impacts their communities
• Why you should never give up on telling your story
• What the essence of a story is and what makes for the most impactful stories

Who is Dr. Levenson?

Jeffrey Levenson, MD is a Florida based eye surgeon and the founder of Jacksonville's Gift of Sight Program, a program that has for over 30 years assured that no one in North Florida is blind for want of a cataract surgery, regardless of their ability to pay. He's also the Chief Medical Officer of SEE International, a Santa Barbara based charity dedicated to the end of needless blindness around the world. He has spent the last ten years working around the globe to promote a re-engineered variant of cataract surgery that's less expensive, equally effective, and suitable to low resource communities. Half of all the blindness in the world is people who need a 10 minute surgery. It doesn't have to be that way. His TEDxSanta Barbara Talk points the way.

Links and Resources:

• Ending Preventable Blindness: reinventing cataract surgery | Jeffrey Levenson | TEDxTalk SantaBarbara
• 1,000 Blind People See For The First Time | MrBeast | Youtube
• SEE International
• Gift of Sight
• Levenson Eye Associates
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in high demand as a high school softball pitcher. Colleges want to recruit me like crazy to come play for their school. The all-expense-paid recruiting trips begin.

There’s one to a college with snow on the ground which appeals to me because I’m a snow skier, too. There’s another college where the coaches are amazing, and another one with an unstoppable team.

Then I get an invitation from a college coach I’m not familiar with. I’m a Southern California girl thinking of sticking close to home on the West Coast, and this school is a little far away.

Yet since these recruiting trips consist of people wining and dining you - so to speak - for a couple of days, I figured there’s no harm in at least going out there for a visit. I’m thinking, “I’ve never been to the islands, so it’s fine. It’ll be a fun weekend.”

When the plane lands and I get off, though, my body is tingling. I love the smell of the air, the flowers, the palm trees and the ocean, and right then and there, I decide, “Yes, I’m ready to sign and I’m going to the University of Hawaii.”

Plot twist!

I was going in one direction, playing it safe. Then I had this opportunity to step out in another direction. I knew nobody in Hawaii and was hours (and an ocean) away from home… and I was willing to take the risk. Doing so changed my life!

My guest today, Candice Michelle, has lived her own life full of plot twists. And in this episode, she talks about the many facets of her story including acting out a story live in front of 100,000+ people, a lesson learned from pro wrestler Ric Flair, and more! Plus, she’ll answer questions such as:

How does listening to your gut drastically affect or change the course of your life story? How does the professional wrestling world create stories and characters for its audience? And why does winning a WWE title mean so much, even in an industry like sports entertainment where the ending to the story is planned?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How your intuition can throw plot twists into your story
• How the philosophy of wrestling matches resembles storytelling
• Why struggles are the best story gifts

Who is Candice Michelle?

Candice Michelle had to overcome the odds even before she was born. Due to complications from her father’s health, her mother’s doctors urged her to abort her pregnancy. But her mom braved the pregnancy anyway and gave birth to a healthy baby girl who grew up in Milwaukee as a Green Bay Packers fan.

At 18, Candice Michelle followed her heart and moved to Hollywood to pursue modeling. She became a WWE Diva Search Contestant, was the first to win the wrestling organization’s Women’s Championship title, and even got to pose on the cover of Playboy. She also went on to become a WWE 24/7 Champion. You might have seen her in Super Bowl commercials every year, too, as the GoDaddy Girl.

An injury ended Candice Michelle’s wrestling career, but it wasn’t the end of her championship reign. Now happily married for 20 years and a mother to three beautiful girls, she’s a champ coach who lives, eats, and trains 24/7 and focuses on helping others through crises and regaining their joy.

Links and Resources:

• Candice Michelle
• @mrs_candice_michelle on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m preparing to begin my class with my mastermind of professional speakers and storytellers about being a premium brand. But there’s one issue: I’m tired of using the same old examples... Apple, Ritz Carlton, Mercedes, etc.

Then, as I’m sipping on my homemade matcha latte, it hits me. I have the answer right in the palm of my hand! I also realize at this point that I’m out of matcha, so I scour the Internet looking at one site after another until I come across one that stands out.

This matcha website has a story around the product. As I continue reading, I learn about the matcha: all the different varieties, where this particular matcha comes from, and the people who grow it. So I purchase it.

When this matcha arrives on my doorstep, I realize that everything about this experience is different. Right from the get-go, I’m unboxing this very carefully and beautifully-wrapped product in tissue paper, and the invoice has a hand-written thank you note on it.

This kind of detail, service, and interaction really illustrate what premium brand experiences are made of! Premium brands aren’t just selling products; they’re truly selling an experience. And this experience changed my relationship with matcha forever.

If you’ve listened to my show for a while, you know I can’t live without my matcha latte. So it should be no surprise that I’d eventually bring a matcha expert onto the show. Well, here he is!

In this episode, I talk with Eric Gower, the founder of Breakaway Matcha who made me a customer for life! In this episode, he discusses how story infiltrates everything he does in his business and takes us on a deep dive into matcha tea.

If you’re curious to know:

What is matcha? How does it affect your external and internal story? And what about storytelling makes it one of the most effective things you can do for sales?

Then tune in as Eric talks about how his introduction to matcha has influenced his life story, explains how metaphors helped him finally understand Bitcoin, demonstrates how he uses storytelling to sell matcha tea, and so much more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How metaphor makes the message of your story go deeper
• What two storytelling factors in sales provide the basis for repeat customers
• How all-around trust serves you in telling an effective story

Who is Eric?

Eric Gower is an author, editor, private chef, cooking teacher, and the founder of Breakaway Matcha. He developed an obsession with extreme-grade matcha while living and working in Japan for 16 years. He thought it should be much easier for people to find. A decade later, his determination paid off as he opened the doors to his company.

The main goal of Breakaway Matcha is making great matcha accessible to anyone. Eric has formed close relationships with those in Japan who cultivate and process it. The company specializes in sourcing exceptional matcha, blending and distributing it worldwide, and educating consumers and food service professionals on matcha preparation and service. In addition, he works with local ceramicists and artists to create beautifully-designed, special teaware that brings the best out of matcha and enhances its enjoyment.

So if you’re looking for a transcendent matcha experience, Breakaway Matcha stops at nothing to keep you as happy and healthy as possible! You can access it along with ceramics and other teaware through Eric’s website.

Links and Resources:

• Breakaway Matcha
• @breakawaymatcha on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s showtime. I’m wickedly nervous as I prepare to deliver my monologue in my very first acting class. I’ve been rehearsing relentlessly and memorizing my script so that I don’t forget any of my character’s dialogue.

I begin. And not two minutes into it, my teacher Peter stops me.

What he says next changes me--not just as an actor, but as a speaker, storyteller, and communicator.

He tells me, “Kymberlee, I want you to live in the line you are in. Don’t worry about what’s going to happen. Good acting is when you risk losing the next line.”

Whoa.

What if we all lived in the line we’re in during conversations with loved ones at home or associates in everyday life? As a voiceover artist and actress, my special guest this week, Kate Marley, does this in spades. And in this episode, she’s here to talk all about it and answer questions like:

What can anyone bring into a story character to give it life? How powerfully do shared stories affect you emotionally, both inside and outside of a community?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why purpose is such an essential storytelling element
• How story and art help you reconnect to your authentic self
• How shared stories shift previously-stuck perspectives and help others

Who is Kate?

Kate Marley is a full-time artist in visual art, acting, and photography in Los Angeles, California. She graduated and obtained her degree from Ithaca College’s Musical Theatre program and is a proud member of the Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA.

Despite her musical days feeling far away, she still has a lifelong goal of telling stories and communicating with various audiences in her current fields of work. Currently, Kate spends most of her time acting and directing in voiceover and selling her artwork locally, always meeting new people and sharing new stories in the process. You can connect with her and find her work through her websites, Kate Marley and Jungmisul.

Links and Resources:

• Kate Marley
• Jungmisul
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at The Groundlings Theatre for an Improv class. We’re doing two-person scenes when our instructor says it’s time for a drill. “This next exercise is a way to go deeper into your characters, fast.”

For each pair, he instructs one person to start with a mundane statement about the other. The second person repeats the statement and adds something about what it means. Then it goes back to the first person to repeat the added-on part of the statement and add something else about what that means.

Kymberlee: Carl, you look lonely standing here by the punchbowl all by yourself.

Carl: I look lonely standing here by the punchbowl all by myself, and what that means is I’m not very good at social events.

K: You’re not very good at social events, and what that means is you prefer to have fun where you don’t have to talk to people.

C: I prefer to have fun where I don’t have to talk to people, and what that means is I’m really into gaming.

And so on it goes, until the instructor says, “Scene!” to end the exercise. That simple made-up scene gives us lots of information about our characters in only a couple of sentences.

In our world, we as communicators have so much we want to share. But sometimes we get stuck in expressing the meat of it in a way that resonates with our audience. When you tap into your feelings, you get to the heart of your story faster!

My guest today, Jane Lui, knows all about storytelling in a variety of ways. She does it through singing, composing, acting, producing, and so much more. In this episode, she talks about how she brings stories to life through her work with emotion leading the way and answers questions like:

In what ways can you start to build your story if you’re stuck? And how can you make your story more interesting for your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What really lies behind the magic of storytelling
• How you can structure your story to get people’s attention
• How you can bring out the layers and multiple facets of your story

Who is Jane?

Jane Lui is a singer, songwriter, composer, and actress who goes by the stage name Surrija (sur-rye-ya). Originally from Hong Kong, she grew up playing piano. She immigrated to the Bay area and started listening to everything from 1930s oldies to 1990s Bjork.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting, Jane released three albums on Youtube that gained a strong following. Then she evolved into her self-titled concept album SURRIJA based on Picasso’s lovers and demonstrated her own growth as both a woman and musician, from classical training to electro-pop artistry. The album, which received a 2021 Best Pop Album nomination at the San Diego Music Awards, features drummer Matt Chamberlain who has also worked with artists such as David Bowie and Fiona Apple.

In addition to Chamberlain, Jane also collaborated with Kate Earl, Melissa Polinar, Son Lux, Tom Brousseau, Vienna Teng, and more. Currently, she’s a cast member and co-music director of Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band. She also composed for the theater productions All’s Well That Ends Well and Secret in the Wings.

Links and Resources:

• SURRIJA
• @janelui on Twitter
• @surrija on Instagram
• @surrija on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m about to deliver a Talk, and I want to open it with a really good story I remembered from a couple of months ago. The problem is I can’t find it anywhere!

I look at my whiteboard, thinking, “Surely, I scribbled a little message about it somewhere there.” Nope.

I search my notebooks. Zip.

I sort through my stacks of sticky notes, and still nothing. After spending over two hours hunting for this story, I decide, “That’s it! From now on, I’m putting all my stories in one spot, once and for all!”

So I create a story arsenal where I can find all of my stories and never run out of ideas. Today, that arsenal is one of my most valuable business assets.

How did I do it? Find out in this episode of the “So You Think You Want To Become a Storyteller” master series as I also answer questions such as:

Why do you need a story arsenal? How do you use it? When do you add to it? And how do you keep it organized?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to record story ideas in your arsenal
• How to organize story ideas to find them as you need them
• What to do when you can’t immediately record a story idea in your arsenal

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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I’m running my software company in 2015 when this email comes in. As we open it, we’re beside ourselves with excitement because it represents the opportunity of a lifetime. We’ve been selected as one of the very few technology companies to present at the DEMO conference.

I eagerly read the details, including how much time presenters have to speak. I’m looking for our company’s name, and I don’t see us among the slots for the 20-minute presentations… nor the 5-minute ones... nor the 3-minute ones.

I get down to the 1-minute presentations and see us listed there.

Cue the freaking out.

We only have 60 seconds to get on stage and talk about our entire software company and everything we do to a roomful of the most influential people in the world!

So what do we do? Something completely different of course.

My co-founder Mark and I get on stage and ask everybody in the audience to stand up. Then one by one, we ask for anyone belonging to certain groups of people to sit down until eventually only the investors in the room are left standing.

Making a joke about how they’re the ones everyone else in the room wants to most meet, we quickly explain that that’s how our software works. It takes complex bits of data and narrows it down to the five people you need to meet.

Our 1-minute presentation was a huge success! It opened so many doors afterward. And it happened because we chose to create an experience for our audience that built a relationship.

My special guest today, Neal Bloom, knows all about relationship-building from both the entrepreneurial perspective and the investor perspective. In today’s show, he talks about story as it relates to the work he does and answers questions like:

What deeper levels of connection can change the trajectory of your life or business? What money stories impact entrepreneurs when it comes to the investor industry (and vice versa)? And how does telling your story open up new avenues or doors of opportunity for you and others?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How connections can be a life or business story game changer
• What makes for a great story in your business pitch
• How story pivots can make you more backable as an entrepreneur

Who is Neal?

Neal Bloom used to think he’d go into one of the family businesses. Instead, he graduated with an engineering undergraduate degree and worked on NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Since then, he’s obtained his M.B.A. with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and marketing.

Neal co-founded a company to help new graduates visually brand themselves using their existing classwork as work experience. After selling the company in 2019, he went on to build Interlock Capital, an investment community of domain expert operators to close the gap between capital and subject matter experts.

Now, Neal serves as the Managing Partner of the venture capital firm, in addition to being CEO of communication firm Rising Tide Partners. Additionally, Neal has launched multiple companies in the education technology and talent technology space, invested in over 50 startup technology companies, amplified the story of governments to help attract innovative businesses to their city, and mentored hundreds of founders to leap into or keep building quality businesses.

Links and Resources:

• Rising Tide Partners
• Interlock Capital
• @NealBloom on Twitter
• Neal Bloom on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It's 2014. As the year draws to a close, all of my friends come up with their New Year’s resolutions, ranging from dropping bad habits to losing weight. But while I create my list of resolutions on the eve of the new year, I realize it isn’t going to work.

Sure, I write them out every year with the best intentions in mind, but I forget some of them by February and even blow by others in January. At the end of the year, when reflecting back, it’s the goals I haven’t reached that make me feel like I’m failing.

Walking on the beach that morning with my matcha latte, I wonder, “What if there were a new way to set intentions for the year ahead? What if those intentions actually made a significant difference in our lives?”

Then it hits me. Instead of doing the usual thing, I’m going to give the upcoming year a short, memorable, spicy name. I’m going to name my year based on who I want to become, not who I am today.

No more lists, no more forgetting, no more failing. I will live into what I’ve named my year with every decision I make and every action I take.

What happens as a result? Everything. Outcomes change based on what I name my year, and it has such a profound effect on me that I start teaching others to do it and have incredible transformations of their own.

Now it’s your turn! In this short but very special episode, I talk about changing your year (and your life) with one, simple word or phrase and demonstrate why it works better than your typical New Year’s resolution.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to create a new story of yourself and your life by naming your year
• Why you shouldn’t keep this new story of yours a secret from others
• How to check in daily to ensure your story stays on track throughout the year

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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As a 14-year-old, I’d rather do a million other things than clean. So I’m not happy when my dad tells me, “Our renters just moved out, so it’s time to clean the house before the new renters move in.”

He notices the look on my face and says, “When I moved to California after high school, I put a down payment on a rental house that turned into two houses, then three houses, and many more. One day, you’ll appreciate these rental houses because making smart choices with your money today will result in financial freedom tomorrow.”

Fast forward to today, and Dad was right. The financial choices we make now do impact our future selves, something my special guest today also knows very well. Dylan Bain focuses his life’s work on the stories that happen as a result of the financial choices we make. In this episode, he tells us all about it.

So if you’re curious to know:

How can you tell the difference between you writing your money story and the story writing you? How can money stories from your childhood impact you as an adult, even if you have very different financial circumstances? How do you unpack the emotional charge from your financial story to get different results? And why does storytelling garner success or breakthroughs when you do it in your line of work?

Then tune in as we touch on the emotional factor of money, other life area stories resembling your money story, the power of storytelling in your profession, and navigating (possibly opposite) money stories between couples. Along the way, Dylan shares stories about a pair of rotting shoes, generational food culture, a bored CFO, a fraudulent principal, an uncomfortable wife, and how all that can have an impact on your money story or the stories you tell others.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why your money story doesn’t actually start with you
• How to adopt a different money story to replace the old one
• Why you should think again if you think storytelling won’t work in your profession

Who is Dylan?

Dylan Bain is a financial coach who specializes in helping others rewrite their money stories. His own journey began eight years ago when he left his job teaching math to pursue an accounting career in grad school while raising his family. Wanting to leave his former life of welfare and multiple jobs behind, he rewrote the script of his life and found peace in financial security. He discovered others wanted to follow a similar path, too, so he began coaching in earnest.

Since Dylan quit his math teacher job, he’s gone from food stamps to financial sovereignty. He believes that people view money, at its core, with fear and mystery when it doesn’t have to be that way. So he brings a holistic approach when it comes to financial relationships. Working through his company Fiscally Savage, he focuses on coaching clients on the emotions of money, seeing a budget as a statement of shared values, and finding ways to control their financial lives and live freely.

Links and Resources:

• Fiscally Savage
• @fiscallysavage on Instagram
• @fiscallysavage on Facebook
• @fiscallysavage on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m coaching a client on her TEDx Talk and she says, “Kymberlee, I don’t know if I can get through this story I’m telling. Every single time I get to a certain part, I start crying and I can’t even stop!”

Having an emotional response like that means you’re very present in your storytelling - which is what you want!

So I tell her, “Try refocusing on your audience while you’re telling the story. How can you serve them?”

In other words, focus on what the audience needs and take care of them instead of focusing internally on yourself.

She tries it and… it changes everything! She can share her stories with minimal tears while in service to her audience.

My special guest today, Eric Hodgdon, is all too familiar with telling hard stories. In this episode, he’s here to share his incredibly valuable perspective on that side of storytelling and answer questions like:

How do you know your story is the right one to tell? How can you conclude hard stories for your audience? And how can you prepare yourself to deliver a difficult story to an audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How telling difficult stories can help you and others heal
• How to know when you’re ready to share a difficult story
• How to keep your story fresh and lively through repeated rehearsals

Who is Eric?

Eric Hodgdon is a speaker, author, and coach who knows first-hand the struggle after losing a loved one. After his 15-year-old daughter Zoi’s death to suicide in early 2014, he grew frustrated with grief support resources focused on survival as the endgame of a grief journey. So for the past 8 years, he’s made it his mission to change the way we approach grief support and coached and trained thousands of women and men on how to navigate one of the worst setbacks in life.

Eric has spoken on a TEDx stage (with Kymberlee as his coach) and authored the Amazon bestselling book A Sherpa Named Zoi. Currently, he works 1-on-1 with clients to help them survive first, then get back up and ultimately live beyond the loss of their loved one. He’s most active on Instagram where he posts every week about how to move from struggle to strength in the face of loss.

Links and Resources:

• Free Grief Support Guide
• A Sherpa Named Zoi by Eric Hodgdon
• @ericbhodgdon on Instagram
• @Getup8 on Facebook
• Free Facebook Grief Support Group: Let’s Walk Together
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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As a storyteller and speaker, how you deliver your content is as important as what you write on the pages in front of you. And there are many things that can affect your delivery and enhance your story or speech and its message for your audience, regardless of the size of said audience or the method of delivery.

While working with speakers and storytellers over the years, I’ve seen many go through draft after draft after draft of their content. Yet, in the end, they don’t have as much time to work on the delivery side of things.

So in this very special episode, I want to take you through several techniques you can put into practice immediately to help you be the storyteller or speaker that people talk about weeks, months, and even years after! You’ll hear stories about delays, dancing maniacs, doctors who aren’t physically present, and get answers to questions like:

What can you do to calm your nerves when giving a talk or telling a story? How do you interact with an imaginary person in your story who isn’t actually there? And how does being aware of your tenses and all of your senses in a story help your listeners?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What areas you’ll always want to train as a speaker or storyteller
• How to smoothly transition from storytelling to teaching mode in your talks
• What to look for when you watch yourself delivering a speech or story

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Breathe: The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health by Dr. Belisa Vranich
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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In 2020, I launched Storytelling School with programs, courses, workshops, masterminds, and one-on-one training. But one of my colleagues notices that there was something missing. She says to me, “Kymberlee, you also need a podcast.”

I’m thinking, “Do I really? I’m so busy already, and there are a TON of well-established podcasts out there. Does the world need another one, and would anyone even bother listening to mine?”

But my colleague insists, “None of those podcasts have your unique perspective on storytelling or can highlight the incredible people you know, all in one place. None of them can give back and serve your audience the way you do.”

Okay, I’m convinced. One hundred weeks later, I’m so glad I went through with it!

Sometimes what we resist is exactly what we need to move forward. And if I had succumbed to that resistance, we wouldn’t have heard the amazing voices and unique points of view of guests that have appeared on the podcast.

Today’s show is a special treat! In this 100th episode of the Storytelling School podcast, you’ll hear the best “mic drop moments” from me and every previous guest. So grab your pen and paper and get ready for micro soundbites that just may inspire you to take action, change your perspective, and even change your life!

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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A few years ago, I’m getting Morgan, a new client, ready for a high-stakes Talk. It’s a controversial one designed for a military audience. So we craft this Core Idea for his speech: The greatest epidemic of our time is one we can’t see.

Morgan tells me, “In the military, you’re thought of as weak if you speak out about or admit any challenges about mental health. That’s why we have an epidemic of 22 veteran suicides a day in this country. I want to change that.”

Woah.

“Okay,” I respond. “Let’s build this Talk to change lives… and save some too.”

His Talk goes on to be a huge success. Sharing his personal story about suicide and how to make other choices (thanks to a little-known option) has become his life’s work.

If you’re curious to know:

How can post-traumatic stress-causing events change your mental story? And why does sharing your vulnerable stories inspire others to share theirs?

Then tune in as Morgan Watt joins me on the Storytelling School Podcast to talk about mental health and its effects on your story’s trajectory, how service dogs like his retriever Foley serve to change life stories, and the potential impact of very deep and dark stories on society-at-large.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How unconditional love from a dog can completely change your story
• Why pauses are incredibly powerful in storytelling and how to use them
• How sharing a traumatic story can inspire hope and helpful action in others

Who is Morgan?

Based in Tampa, Florida, Morgan Watt is a speaker, advocate, U.S. Air Force veteran, and former airline captain. During the Gulf War, he handled detection dogs at U.S. Air Force bases worldwide. Eventually, he was invited to be part of the Secret Service detail for the President and other highly sensitive assignments with bomb dogs.

As an airline transport pilot, Morgan earned multiple types of ratings and became an FAA check airman who later developed a curriculum to train pilots. He studied human services (with an emphasis on mental health and counseling) at Springfield College in Massachusetts following his 17-year career in the aviation industry.

Having served as a spokesperson for Southeastern Guide Dogs since 2016, he weaves all of his experiences with a compassionate understanding of anxiety and trauma. Morgan’s mission is to end the silent suicide epidemic among the country’s veteran and active duty service men and women.

Links and Resources:

• Morgan Watt
• Southeastern Guide Dogs
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My grandfather Joe is serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He isn’t married... yet. But he is head over heels for someone who’s there waiting for him in Seattle every single time his ship comes into port.

That someone is my grandmother Beverly, who’s just as in love with him too. She moves from Hollywood to the Pacific Northwest to be there as he comes back from his deployments. Whenever he’s away, they write letters back and forth to each other constantly.

Over 100 letters (and a marriage and a family) later, I inherit these letters and start reading them. Going through them, I discover incredible accounts of events happening in the war and feelings between my grandparents. I’m getting to know them better than when they were still alive.

As I begin reading this one letter from my grandfather, I’m captivated by the details of being aboard the ship, his concern for the war, and his love for Beverly. However, there’s something unusual about this letter. Someone has, quite literally, cut out a paragraph! This paper has a hole in it.

Sure, censorship during wartime happens, but my mind can’t help but race with curiosity. Why was it cut? What was in that missing paragraph? And did he ever tell my grandmother what it was?

You know you have good writing when you want to know what’s missing, and you start imagining things and filling in the blanks for yourself. And that’s why I’m so excited for this week’s special guest! Ross Brown is an award-winning writer, producer, and professor. In this episode, he talks about comedic writing, shares stories from his sitcom writing days (including the writing process), and answers questions such as:

How can you turn a dark situation into a comedic writing opportunity? What two things make a story a story, regardless of its format? And where can unpredictability cross the line and cause a negative reaction in your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the story still matters most, even in comedic writing
• What it takes to create good comedic stories without forcing the funny
• Why unpredictability makes for better comedy and stories

Who is Ross?

Ross Brown has created and produced comedies for The WB, CBS, and ABC. After beginning his career on The Cosby Show, he went on to work on the feature film National Lampoon’s Vacation as an assistant director. Next, he served as a tenured Assistant Professor of TV Writing & Production at Chapman University. Then from 2016 until June 2022, he was the founding director of the MFA in Writing & Contemporary Media at Santa Barbara’s Antioch University.

In addition to his television and film work, Ross has had his short plays performed in theaters in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minnesota, as well as readings of his full-length plays staged at The Pasadena Playhouse in California and The Barter Theater in Virginia. He’s also authored the book Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet which is an all-in-one guide to creating short-form TV series online.

Links and Resources:

• rossgordonbrown@gmail.com
• @ross.brown.9440 on Facebook
• Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet by Ross Brown
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at a dinner party in this cool, old house that belongs to one of my stepmom Sandy’s best friends. This castle-style home stands three stories tall and has winding staircases inside and trees surrounding it.

And I’m a fourth-grader surrounded by adults at this get-together. So despite this cool house, I eventually get bored. I’m still sitting in my chair trying to behave, though.

Just as we’re about to start on dessert, Denise (who lives there) notices my boredom. She takes a leftover dinner roll and chucks it out the window! We’re so high up that we never even hear it hit the ground.

I look at her in shock as she takes another roll and throws that out the window, too! I ask, “Denise, why do you do that?”

She responds, “Oh, to feed the dragons, of course.”

Dragons?!

“You have pet dragons?” I ask.

“Yeah, three of them. And they love dinner rolls.”

Right then and there, I decided that Denise is one of the world’s coolest people and that I too want to have pet dragons.

This story has stuck with me ever since I was that 9-year-old because of the possibility. What if there were actually dragons or other magical creatures living among us?

That’s the premise of the Sam London Adventure books series written by my special guest today, Todd Gallicano. In this episode, he and I talk about how you have your own hero’s journey, effective ways to open and close your story, plot twist predictability, and overcoming writer’s block.

You’ll also get answers to questions like:

How can you use truth as a springboard for a fictional story? In what way are you on your own hero’s journey right now? Should you leave a story open-ended or resolve it for your audience? And what’s really responsible for writer’s block anyway?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the inner journey is so important in storytelling
• Why the precipitating or inciting incident is an essential element to open a story
• Why writing yourself into a corner might be the best thing to do for your story

Who is Todd?

Todd Gallicano is a book author, Hollywood screenwriter, and international speaker who graduated from New York University’s School of Film and Television. He began his film career with Italian-born producer Dino De Laurentiis. Since then, he’s sold screenplays to SKG, Netflix, and Dreamworks and had scripts developed with Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and other major production companies. In 2023, Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño will star in the film Best. Christmas. Ever. based on his screenplay.

Lovers of the Harry Potter books or Rick Riordan’s fictional works based on ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology will appreciate Todd's Sam London series. His series has already garnered a reputation for encouraging readers to learn more about mythology and folklore, as well as visit and support national parks worldwide. Todd was a recent panelist at the International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries and has spoken at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. His talks have touched on adapting books into films, games, and audio, and he’s introduced thousands of students to the universal storytelling components within ancient myth and modern fantasy.

You may have also seen Todd’s appearances on TV or his articles in major publications. Currently, he hosts the podcast The Creature Files where he invites expert guests and eyewitnesses to talk about creatures from mythology and folklore.

Links and Resources:

• Mythical Wildlife
• The Creature Files
• @mythicalwildlife on Facebook
• @mythicalwildlife on Youtube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m nine and living in a wonderful residential neighborhood in southern California.

And someone has just broken into our house while I was at school and my Dad and Step Mom were at work!

As I watch the police interview my parents outside, I know what I have to do.

I go into my Dad’s tool shed and look around until I find it: the caulking gun. I then traverse my backyard and cover everything I can see--the bushes, the furniture, all of it--with white caulking paste.

Why does nine-year-old me do this? Because in my mind, I know that when the robbers come back, their feet will stick in this gluey paste and I’ll catch ‘em!

Except that’s not exactly what happens...

Annie, our golden retriever, is not aware of my plan and finds herself covered in this thick white sticky paste after innocently wandering into the backyard. After multiple baths for her and deep breaths from my Dad, he suggests, “We leave the police work to the professionals.”

My special guest on the Storytelling School Podcast this week, Pete James, is one of those professionals. Plus he takes it up a notch by protecting the people who protect us.

In this episode, you’ll hear him tell some shocking stories involving law enforcement, judges, and others (though not in the way you’re probably thinking) and get answers to questions like:

What’s one thing that can change the trajectory of your story without you even being aware of it? And how can you ensure control of your story before some harmful, unforeseen circumstance influences it?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you want to keep certain details of your personal story hidden from public view
• How certain private story details get exposed for everyone to see in the first place
• Why scrubbing your personal information online isn’t a one-time thing

Who is Pete?

Pete James is a former member of the U.S. Navy. He served on an aircraft carrier as an Intelligence Specialist. Then he moved on to a career in law enforcement where he worked for 25 years and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.

As a skilled Open-Source Intelligence analyst and computer forensics expert, Pete has experience in investigating thousands of criminal, civil, and corporate cases and has testified in state, federal, and civil trials. His passion involves the protection of those who protect us. To that end, he combined his law enforcement experience and online investigative skills to create his company Officer Privacy. The business protects law enforcement officers, celebrities, and regular citizens by removing their private information from the Internet so that they and their families feel safe from criminals and others who want revenge.

Links and Resources:

• Officer Privacy
• @petejames77 on LinkedIn
• @OfficerPrivacy on Facebook
• @officerprivacy on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the end of my first semester at the University of Hawaii and my roommate Shannon and I are cramming for finals. At around 9p at night, we decide to take a break so we go get a bite to eat at King’s Bakery.

After our delicious late night snack of Sweet Hawaiian Bread French Toast, we hop back on our mopeds, wind in our hair, heading back towards our dorm.

That’s the last thing I remember.

The next thing I do remember is waking up in a hospital bed five days later. The pain is so severe I can barely turn my head. I learn that a masonry cement truck had run a red light and hit us.

I’m dizzy, nauseous and my head is pounding as the doctor comes into my room. I ask him if he can give me something for the pain.

“No Kymberlee, I’m sorry. We can’t give you anything because your brain is swelling right now.”

What?!

“You’re going to have trouble with dizziness and nausea for a really long time. You’ll probably have trouble with balance and headaches for the rest of your life.”

Ready for the bad news? According to him, I’ve also lost my sense of taste and smell… forever.

Now, lying in this bed, I have a choice to make. I can let others decide what happens in my story next, or I can take the reins of my story instead.

I chose the latter. And because of that pivotal decision, doors and opportunities opened up to me that would have never been options. Dreams have come true all because I took my life in my own hands.

My guest today, Kurt Kanazawa, also had a choice to make when he was faced with a diagnosis. He was on a very specific life path when everything changed. In this episode, you’ll hear about it and answers to questions such as:

What’s the benefit behind telling the story that you don’t necessarily want to tell? How can your history spawn creative storytelling for other creators? And what’s a powerful way to open a story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What is possible when you take control of your story
• Why the truth of your story can’t remain hidden for long
• What it means to be real in your storytelling (no matter the medium)

Who is Kurt?

Kurt Kanazawa is an actor and writer born in Los Angeles and partly raised in Hawai'i. He graduated from The Juilliard School in Vocal Arts, and lived for several years in Italy, where he starred in the Italian drama series, Provaci Ancora Prof! He is fluent in Italian, and is of Japanese and Filipino descent. He is based in Los Angeles.

Most recently, Kurt can be seen in the ensemble feature film No No Girl, a multi-generational Japanese American family drama, written/directed by Paul Daisuke Goodman. At Tribeca, Cannes, Hawai'i, and BFI London Film Festivals, he played Stanley Hayami in A Life in Pieces: the Diary and Letters of Stanley Hayami, a V/R film co-produced by the Japanese American National Museum, and has also appeared on Bosch: Legacy and Grey's Anatomy. Trained in martial arts, and an alumnus of Columbia University, UCLA TFT, and the Manhattan School of Music, he was formerly an award-winning opera singer. After a diagnosis of vocal dystonia ended his singing career, a casting director scouted him in Rome, where he landed his first acting gig.

Links and Resources:

• Kurt Kanazawa
• @kurtkanazawa on Instagram
• Eight East Productions
• @nonogirl_movie on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting with my mom looking over old photos. At one point, I ask her if I ever played with dolls as a kid. She kind of smirks and says, “As soon as you received any doll that was given to you, off came the clothes. The doll was tossed aside, and your stuffed animals became the best-dressed toys in the world.”

My mom then points to one particular photo of me with our Siamese kitty Samantha. In it, I have her under my arm dressed in one of my nightgowns!

“We had to capture this moment. And you always had a story to tell us.”

My special guest today also had a magical childhood filled with stuffed animals. Elora Marquez created make-believe stories with hers set to music from her father’s turntable. In fact, her life has always been filled with creativity: from jewelry-making to dance and music to photography to painting and beyond!

If you’re curious to know:

What life lesson does the world of painting have to offer to storytellers? How does just being human allow you to influence the story of others on this planet?

Then tune in as she and I talk about the many avenues of storytelling creativity, an intuitive push to transition from the corporate world into the art world, letting go of old unwanted stories, and even the bright side of dementia as it relates to story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How you can create stories out of simple objects
• What ideal state allows you as a storyteller to flourish and influence others
• How relinquishing control of old stories helps the next generation

Who is Elora?

Elora Marquez is a multi-hyphenate creative who used to work in the corporate world but has always loved the world of art (whether it’s fashion, photography, or dance) thanks to being raised by a photographer dad and fashion designer mom. When stress at her job started to deteriorate her health, she quit and went back to college part-time to take art classes and rekindle her love of the art world. She started teaching photography with her dad, dove back into making jewelry (which she’s loved since age 7), and took up painting which she infuses with reiki to leave others with a sense of calm joy.

In 2015, she started a jewelry-making business and had her pieces featured on TV and sold in numerous fairs, galleries, shops, and boutiques like Bloomingdales. And she plans to fuse her love of painting, jewelry, and photography to play with others who want to learn in workshops and classes.

Currently, Elora and her husband Jason raise four kids: twins Mason and Ella, with stepkids Jonah and Cecilia. Together, they’re passionate about supporting their community and the world and inspiring people to live fully self-expressed and healthy lives.

Links and Resources:

• Elora Marquez
• @elorafina on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2016. I’m putting on a high-stakes speaking and storytelling workshop. One of the attendees “Shawn” is the CEO of a tech company, and he’s not buying the idea of using storytelling to raise money and land deals.

I say to him, “Give me two days. But you’ve got to play all in. Are you in?”

Despite his skepticism that anything will drastically change for him, he reluctantly agrees.

When the workshop concludes, he feels he has a new competitive edge with this storytelling knowledge.

Fast forward in time to two weeks ago when we run into “Shawn”. He reveals that he’s practiced that workshop training ever since it ended and landed a life-changing deal with one of the largest software companies in his industry! He completely attributes his success to his ability to what he learned at my workshop:

How to tell a great short story.

So if you want to know:

What powerful insider techniques do great storytellers use to get such great results? And how can you use storytelling as your superpower and get others to choose you in a highly competitive playing field over your competition?

Then I’ve got you covered! Today’s episode switches things up a bit. It’s very short and all about the Masterclass I’m offering (I only do this a couple of times a year!) that teaches you how to skyrocket your success with story.

What you will learn in the Masterclass:

• Why stories matter (with proven results)
• How stories work (with a behind-the-scenes unpacking)
• What change you can make to any story for dramatic effect
• What crucial element every story needs
• What essential question you must ask when using stories for business

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Free Masterclass: Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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I’m getting buzzed with a text message from my friend Mike.

Kymberlee, you’ve got to check out this newsletter!

My inbox is already overflowing, so the last thing I need is another newsletter on my to-read list. Thanks for thinking of me, I let Mike know.

This is different! It’s micro content which is exactly how you teach.

He knows I’m always talking about short-form storytelling and how it’s a superpower.

So I check this must-see newsletter out. And wow! Not only do I read the entire thing in just a few minutes, the content is riveting, incredibly valuable, and actionable. Plus, I find myself chomping at the bit to put into practice what I’m reading right then.

In this week’s episode on the Storytelling School Podcast, I speak with the man behind that incredible newsletter content. Eddie Shleyner is a copywriter, marketer, storyteller, and one of the only newsletter writers in my inbox that I make sure to read every single time. So if you’re curious to know:

Besides story, what are the other elements that make up a micro article? Why does storytelling work so well in copywriting? Why does vivid imagery in writing have such a powerful influence on people?

Then tune in as you hear about the power of realism in writing, vivid imagery from a dentist that makes a lesson really stick in the mind, and how Breaking Bad and Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral” demonstrate some of the most popular and effective storytelling techniques out there.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to cut out extra, unnecessary detail in your stories
• Why opening in the middle is the best way to start a story
• What “zero endings” are and their purpose in storytelling

Who is Eddie?

Eddie Shleyner is the founder of Very Good Copy (VGC), a blog and newsletter about copywriting and creativity. He used to serve as the former Copy Chief at G2.com for three years where he worked with a world-class marketing team. He was even named “Marketing MVP of the Year” for the company shortly before it announced its Series D $1.1 billion funding valuation in June 2021.

Eddie left G2 to continue building VGC which has over 33,000 subscribers and garners approximately 100 more per day. Earlier this year, VGC won HackerNoon’s “Email Newsletter of the Year” award and was voted a “Top Voice” in Marketing and Advertising on LinkedIn. He’s also written copywriting columns for HubSpot, Forbes, and Hootsuite and is a guest lecturer at Boston University.

Links and Resources:

• Very Good Copy
• Cathedral by Raymond Carver
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting alone in my car with the radio on. One of my favorite songs of all time begins to play. I start moving my head and tapping along with it on the steering wheel. Pretty soon, I can’t help myself: I’m belting out this song.

I look around to see if anyone notices me because I’m in the middle of traffic. I realize I don’t care, though. I love this song so much and am so in the moment that I’m even getting chills during certain parts of it!

Like stories, music has the power to take you to a place where you lose sense of time and space. My guest today knows that all too well. In fact, Rich Jacques is an award-winning producer and artist who’s spent his life creating songs and narratives that evoke all the emotions of the human experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear about REM and why literal meanings for songs aren’t necessary, the Brené Brown speech that caused her the most anxiety but also put her on the map, and get answers to questions like:

How do you bring stories to life through sound? Why can your relationship to storytelling be a daunting thing? And how can giving yourself permission push you past your writer’s block?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How true experiences affect the audience that hears your stories
• How shifting into first person or present tense can enhance your stories
• What critical piece is necessary for both telling and listening to stories

Who is Rich?

Rich Jacques is a Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, musician, and solo artist based in Santa Barbara, California.

Authenticity is a key factor that drives him. As a producer, Rich wants to get to the core of what makes each artist unique. Some of the notable artists he’s worked with include Maya Rudolph, Sarah Macdougal, Rob Giles, Colin Hay, Shane Alexander, and Lisa Loeb (Rich won his Grammy collaborating on her album Feel What U Feel).

As a songwriter, his music has been featured in commercials for Honda and Xbox as well as in movies and on TV shows. You can hear Rich’s work on productions like Grey’s Anatomy, The Fosters, Nashville, Pretty Little Liars, Heartland, Vampire Diaries, America’s Got Talent, The Breakup, All My Children, and so much more.

Links and Resources:

• Rich Jacques
• @richjacques on Instagram
• Rich Jacques on Spotify
• Rich’s co-writes/productions on Spotify
• Grendel by John Gardner
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 7 o’clock in the morning in Des Moines, Iowa. I’m ready to give my first ever keynote speech. My hair and makeup are done and I’ve got my power dress on. I’m ready to dazzle!

Only one thing’s missing: my bulletproof matcha tea. It’s my magic elixir that’ll turn my speech from amazing to extraordinary. I gotta have it before I walk out of my hotel room.

So I take out my Ninja® blender I’ve brought all the way from California, put all the ingredients in it (hot water, matcha tea powder, high octane oil, and ghee/butter), push the lid down, start the engines, and--poof! Everything explodes out of the blender and this sticky green goo and splatters all over me, my dress, my hair, the walls, the keyboard… everywhere.

I’m freaking out when my husband Mark runs in from the other room. He tells me, “I’ve got this” and says he’ll remake my tea while I go shower, change, and get myself together again. So he too puts all the ingredients back into the blender, pushes the lid down... and the same thing happens all over again! Everything, including Mark, gets a fresh coating of green goo.

Naturally, I start freaking out even more. But we do our best with cleaning ourselves up and leave without my bulletproof matcha tea. Even though I feel like a mess (mentally and physically), I give the keynote speech in front of 4,000 people.

As we fly home after that experience, I plan to give the Ninja® blender people a piece of my mind, tell them their contraption doesn’t work, and send it back in the box it came from. But when I go to the garage to retrieve the box, I notice something. It says that it’s for cold ingredients only and meant for chopping ingredients. That’s why it kept exploding!

Whoops! As I always like to say, things will either go well or you’ll have a story to tell on the other side of it.

If you want to get paid to speak (with or without a pre-speech disaster like I had that day), then tune in as Mark and I continue our series on storytelling today.

In this episode, I answer questions like:

What does getting paid to speak look like? What are the different ways you can get paid as a speaker? And how can you be as effective a speaker, thought leader, and storyteller as possible?

In this episode, I answer questions like:

What does getting paid to speak look like? What are the different ways you can get paid as a speaker? And how can you be as effective a speaker, thought leader, and storyteller as possible?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to find more keynote speaking opportunities after you’ve landed the first
• How to reframe free speaking opportunities in your mind
• How to manufacture more opportunities once you’ve made the journey to speak in another city

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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I’m being recruited by colleges throughout the country as a high school softball pitcher. The NCAA rules say I can go on up to five paid recruiting trips. So I have to pick and choose - it’s a tough decision!

The first school has an incredible coach... but I’m not sure if it’s really a great fit for me. The second school I visit has a really strong team (and skiing which I love almost as much as softball)... but it’s very different from my SoCal roots.

Then I get approached by the University of Hawaii. They don’t really have a top five team, I know nobody there, and it’s really far away from home. But hello! It’s a paid trip to Hawaii! I’ve never been there, and I’m not about to turn down an opportunity to spend a weekend in the islands.

So off I go, and when I step off the plane, the smell of the air just hits me. The ocean view from my hotel room takes my breath away! It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I make my decision then and there. I sign on the dotted line to play softball for the University of Hawaii.

As it turns out, I’d end up spending almost eight years living in Hawaii. And it probably never would have happened without that magnetic ocean view that captivated me.

My guest today has made a career of documenting and telling stories about the ocean and its challenges. Michael Hanrahan has such a love affair for the ocean that he’s spent 25 years involved with documentary films about it, working as an underwater camera operator in it, and even writing a fictional book about it!

If you’re curious to know:

What two elements at the center of storytelling develop trust between you and your audience? What critical role does research have in storytelling? And why is upsetting people not an effective path to inspiring them to act for change?

Then tune in as Michael and I discuss stories of Japanese bottle-nosed dolphins in distress, shark fin shenanigans and other perils of a Polynesian fisherman (past and present), and how it all ties into one of the main purposes of storytelling!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to tell stories about the environment that’ll drive people to act
• How to approach sensitive topics in your storytelling
• Why an emotional response isn’t necessarily the last thing you want to leave your audience with

Who is Michael?

Michael Hanrahan displays a respect for the ocean and combines it with his desire to communicate the challenges it faces. He double-majored in marine science and motion picture film at the University of Miami and has been involved with ocean documentary films for the last 25 years. He spent the early part of his career traveling to every continent (except Antarctica) working as a lecturer and underwater camera operator for Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Next, Michael went on to mentor with Mike deGruy, a legend in the underwater and natural history documentary world. Together, they developed a filming strategy for a Discovery Channel production of the first video footage of the giant squid.

They were also involved in the production of a short film series for the National Science Foundation about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its environmental impacts in the Gulf of Mexico. A proposed film project in the works between them and James Cameron in 2011 was indefinitely suspended with the untimely death of deGruy in a helicopter accident in Australia.

Currently, Michael is the author of the environmental thriller The Last Extinction. It tells the story of an ancient table discovered in the Amazon rainforest that reveals the truth of the relationship between humanity and nature.

Links and Resources:

• The Cove on Tubi TV
• Earth Media Lab, LLC
• The Last Extinction
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I open an email from the creative director of a local theatre. In it, she’s asking me if I’d be willing to step in as the replacement lead in a two-person play… that opens in 10 days!

I take a look at the play and a couple of things immediately catch my attention. First, it includes Shakespeare, which I’ve never done before. Second, it involves singing in multiple genres. The genres part? Cool. The singing? I don’t sing. And I would only have a few days to memorize this entire play and prepare to sing it in front of a live audience.

So of course, I respond, “Yes, I’ll do it!” I think to myself, This is either going to go incredibly well or be a disaster. But either way, I’ll have a story to tell one day.

It’s one of those “Yes, and” moments of life, and my special guest Drew Boudreau knows all about it. In this episode, he and I explore the idea of character and different approaches to acting, a valuable lesson to learn from both Mike Trout’s MLB career and a high school director’s stunt, and more.

Are you curious to know:

What’s the difference between character work in Improv vs. other storytelling performance art forms? What’s one area of story and performance where adults can learn from musical theatre students? And how does showing up as your truest self make for the best life story you can give yourself?

Then enjoy as Drew graces the show with mic drop moments, humor, and great stories gleaned from his experience as an actor, educator, and absolute pro at Improv performance.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What essential element makes it easy to tell a great story
• Why the artistry and creativity of storytelling are so vital in business
• Why the risk of failure is necessary for success in storytelling and life

Who is Drew?

Based in New York City, Drew Boudreau is an actor, writer, teacher, and comedian. He has spent time at The Second City in Chicago, 3-D Theatricals in Southern California, Off-Broadway, and in national tours and Moth story slams.

A theatre kid since birth, Drew has also worked as a performer and production manager for the Walt Disney Company on land and sea. Along with his acting work, he helps students and parents through the auditioning process for theatre colleges through his company, College Audition Pros, and is a self-described obsessive baseball fan and fish dad.

Links and Resources:

• College Audition Pros
• @drewboudreau on Instagram
• @drewboudreau on TikTok
• @drewboudreau on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m rehearsing with my Improv team for a big upcoming show when our coach John says to me, “All your characters sound… like Kymberlee.” I’m thinking, “Well, of course, they do! I’m the one creating them.”

I must’ve said what I was thinking out loud because he responds back, “Actually Kymberlee, we want to meet these characters as themselves.” So he gives me an exercise to do. I’ve got to stand in the center of the stage and do a completely different voice whenever one of my fellow performers approaches me to start a new scene.

PANIC! I had all of maybe three different characters prepared in my head, so I had no idea what I was gonna do. But after doing scene after scene, I managed to find all these new characters--just by changing my voice.

That exercise helped change my point of view in scenes, my physicality, and even my emotions. And it all came from simply speaking differently each time. My guest today, Steve French, literally does this for a living as a full-time, in-demand voice actor. In this episode, he and I discuss storytelling through voice acting, and he answers questions such as:

What's a process you can use to prepare for incorporating stories in your business? How can you transform mere lines in a script into a compelling audible story? And what can you do if you struggle with your storytelling skills in an event, such as an audition or speech?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to stand out as a storyteller using your individual voice
• How you can prepare yourself for a vocal storytelling project
• Why an audience falls in love with effective story hooks

Who is Steve?

Steve French is a voice actor based in New York who graduated from The Hartt School Theatre Division in West Hartford, Connecticut. He was an award-winning stage actor and singer before becoming a full-time voice actor. You might recognize him as the promo voice of The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Steve’s voice has been featured in various projects, from nature documentaries on National Geographic to spooky movie trailers and funny commercials. You can hear him on recent episodes of STARZ’s P-Valley and Peacock’s Girls5Eva. His voiceover work also appears nationwide for Toyota, and he hosts the official Unsolved Mysteries Podcast every week.

Links and Resources:

• Steven French VO
• @stevefrenchvo on Instagram
• @stevefrenchvo on Twitter
• @stevefrenchvo on Facebook
• Steve French on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in a San Francisco hotel room trying to dress up as a geisha for Halloween in 2006. I’ve already made many attempts to apply my own makeup, and it’s just not working out. I resemble Batman more than a geisha, so I decide to let a professional makeup artist do it instead.

Off to the mall department store I go and my husband Mark comes along to see me undergo this transformation. And I swear, once the pro is done with me I look like I could’ve stepped out of the 1800s of Japan.

We go on to have a great time that night and arrive back in our hotel room. I’m looking at my phone at around 2 o’clock in the morning when I come across something surprising. Unbeknownst to me, Mark has posted a behind-the-scenes picture of me in the makeup chair. And I don’t look good at all! In fact, I look like a zombie.

So I ask him to take the photo down immediately. But remember: this is back in 2006 when Twitter is still new. You can’t delete photos off it yet. Mark is trying to tell me this but I’m in a bit of a panic, thinking there has to be a way to remove this picture. Somehow, a way gets found because it’s gone three hours later. Marriage saved!

Now, my guest today, may or may not have as dramatic a story to tell as that. But Violeta Meyners does impressively create real-life modern-day beauty through both the lens and lashes and helps women feel and look beautiful at the same time. In this episode, she answers questions like:

How does she do it differently than other entrepreneurs? What was the narrative that she, as a woman in her industry, wanted to change? And how can you establish a connection with clients?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What’s necessary to capture the story of beauty within images
• Why over-curating curbs your ability to uplevel your storytelling
• How perfection brings out your imperfections

Who is Violeta?

The beauty business and dreamy ocean living wasn’t always the case for Violeta Meyners. She came from next to nothing, arriving in the U.S. from Romania with no friends or family and less than $500 in her pocket. All she had was big dreams, a burning desire to turn them into reality, and a will to do whatever it took. While going to school, she worked four jobs, transmuted back-on-forth from jobs to school by foot, and ate for nearly $1.25 a day.

Violeta freelanced as a makeup artist for a decade until six years ago when she considered how her approach to makeup artistry made women feel. She wanted to capture their beauty, freshness, and empowerment in a permanent way, using the lens. That’s when she took her passion for photography and turned it into a full-fledged career where she now helps women own and celebrate their beauty and worthiness. You can learn more about Violeta at her website.

Links and Resources:

• Violeta Meyners
• @violetartistry on Instagram
• @Violetartistry on Facebook
• @violetartistry on Youtube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2015 and I’ve just become addicted to this thing called improvisational comedy. I’m consuming every bit of information I can find: taking classes, reading books, and Googling everything about it. I’m completely immersed.

Then I hear about an Improv performance just south of where I live. Obviously, I have to go and see it... and it is amazing! The characters, the music, the performers--they’re all mesmerizing! And I’m thinking, “There’s no way I’ll ever be as good as they are.”

After the show ends, the performers meet us outside the theater. I shake hands with one of them and say, “I’d love to be able to do what you do.”

And he simply responds, “You can!”

Fast-forward seven years later, and not only is that performer my guest in this episode but he and I are starring in a play together! Tom Mueller has been a performer all his life. In fact, he has far-reaching family history with performance art.

If you’re curious to know:

What is competitive Improv and how does it work? How can powerful stories impact you (and the world around you) long after you first hear them?

Then enjoy the show as Tom and I talk about theater sports, the power of commitment to improvisational storytelling, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to start a scene (or a speech) in a way that’ll engage your audience right away
• What makes a great story, from the theatrical Improv perspective
• What needs to be true for a character to be believable

Who is Tom?

TBA

Links and Resources:

• Impro by Keith Johnstone
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m running for 6th-grade student body president and it’s a big day for me. When it’s my turn to make my speech, I walk up the stairs to the podium on stage with my script in hand. I’ve worked and re-worked this speech for hours and hours, day after day, just for this moment.

The entire school auditorium is full as I begin… And as I get further and further into my speech, I look up from my paper to see that the students aren’t paying attention. One kid named Stu is even asleep in the front row!

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I pick up my speech, crumple it up, and throw it on the floor. I start speaking from my heart, saying all the things I’d like to promise them if they vote for me: longer recesses, no homework, free ice cream.

I finally get a reaction from my fellow students, ending in a standing ovation when they hear about the free ice cream. I continue to tell them that I can’t promise any of that, but I can promise them to be the best president I’m capable of by upholding school policies.

No one hears that though; they have their mind set on free ice cream every day after school. I win in a landslide.

That’s how I became Student Body President and more importantly, how I learned a pivotal life lesson: When you speak from the heart, you can wake people up and change the game.

My special guest on the Storytelling Podcast, Cathy Scharetg is incredible at changing the game through curiosity. In this episode, we discuss storytelling as a way to draw people into your world or allow them to let you into theirs. And along the way, Cathy answers questions like:

What does it really mean to be curious? And what happens when you allow yourself to be curious about the world around you?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories allow you to get into people’s good graces
• Why curiosity is so much more than just a human characteristic
• How being a better “asker” can change your life considerably

Who is Cathy?

Cathy Scharetg is a TEDx Presenter, certified Career Development Specialist, and the director and head coach of Curiosity Coach. She believes that curiosity illustrates what’s possible, collapses your biases, and catapults you just beyond your comfort zone to where gold lies. She’s seen leaders become master-level influencers and coaches them to use their curiosity as a catalyst for connection, change, and innovation.

As an accredited public speaker, teacher, and personal coach, Cathy helps thought leaders worldwide transition from overtaxed systems and antiquated ideas to new insights, impact, and clarity. She’s also a certified Rewilding Coach, Learning and Development advisor for One Up One Down, and president of the When Women Speak chapter in San Francisco. In addition, she’s served as a licensed Realtor for over 25 years, holding board and leadership positions in the process.

Links and Resources:

• @yourcuriositycoach_ on Instagram
• Cathy Scharetg
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2010 and I’ve been attending the annual TED conference for seven years. I want all my friends and family to experience TED too, but it’s by invitation only.

I learn that the head of TED, Chris Anderson, has announced that TEDsters can apply to create independently organized TED events locally.

I’m thinking, “What an incredible opportunity, but can we pull it off?” I worry about our ideas not being big enough to share. Not to mention, I’ve produced events before but not at this magnitude.

After talking about it endlessly, we decide we’ll go for it.

It turns out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Those events become known as TEDx events (the x stands for independently organized TED event). Ever since, we’ve had the opportunity to produce many TEDx events, birthing ideas and stories into the world that affect change, one person at a time.

Speaking of producing, my special guest today Angela Gulner is a film producer, actress, and writer, who also brings stories to life that can touch individuals at the exact moment they need it most. In this episode, she and I look at storytelling through different angles and answer questions such as:

How does energy play a part in the writing process? As an actor, what is it like to become a character? And must your protagonist be likable, or is there another way to get an audience to go on a journey with a character?

Along the way, you’ll hear Angela discuss playing a villainess, collaborating with others to create work during hard times, taking on the producer role out of necessity, and upleveling your storytelling game with accountability.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why conflict or struggle is such an important storytelling component
• What truly makes a story a story in a visual medium
• How striving for story perfection can rob your audience

Who is Angela?

Angela Gulner got her start with an MFA in Acting from Harvard University. She then began her career as a writer and producer with the indie dark comedy Binge, which went viral with over 2 million on Youtube and got a development deal with MGM Studios.

Along with her writing partner, she developed and pitched TV projects for heavy hitters in the industry such as MGM Studios, Calvary Media, and Debbie Liebling. Recently, Angela wrote for upcoming features like Some Other Woman (starring Amanda Crew and Tom Felton) and Kaet Might Die for Balcony 9 Productions.

In addition, she produced and starred in the feature film The Summoned which was released by XYZ Films on VOD. Currently, she’s in post-production as the producer of the short film Gay-ish (written by Michelle Askew, the youngest female writer to ever make the Blacklist, who also makes her directorial debut with the film). Angela also has two feature films in development as writer and director for Wicked Myth Films.

Links and Resources:

• The Summoned
• Binge
• @angelagulner on Instagram
• @wickedmythflims on Instagram
• @youaresummoned on Instagram
• @bingetheseries on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s 2003. I’m sitting in the audience of my first TED event. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a once-a-year, invite-only private event in Monterey, CA.

As I look at the speaker list, I recognize… no one on it. Then I gaze through the descriptions of the talks scheduled--one on nanotech, another on robotics, another on anthropology…

I find myself thinking, “Is this event really for me?”

These topics have nothing to do with my business, so I’m not sure I even belong here.

As the speakers begin, one after another, I find myself captivated. Not just with one Talk - with all the Talks. So much so, that the TED experience changes the way I think.

Listening to those Talks (eighteen a day for five days straight!) exposes me to a cross-pollination of ideas that not only influences how I run my software company, it cements lateral thinking, something critical in both business and storytelling.

Today, I’ve invited a special guest who uses his own special sauce of lateral thinking each day. In this episode, Mike Wald and I talk about the power of stories when it comes to making your business and brand stand out, especially in a crowded market. He provides so many wonderful tips for storytellers and business owners while answering questions like:

Where does the danger lie in researching the market for stories that’ll land with your potential audience? Where do people often have to be corrected in telling the story of their brand? What investment can you make that’ll have people loving your brand?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to make stories in your marketing more relatable for your audience
• How to ethically use data gathering online for storytelling and marketing purposes
• How to mitigate the risk of turning off your audience with your stories

Who is Mike?

For over 20 years, Oniracom’s Chief Marketing Officer Mike Wald has developed campaigns and launched products for a wide-breadth of verticals. He considers himself a technologist and a futurist with expertise and affection in ecological anthropology which brings a thoughtful, innovative blend of science, tech, and sociology to the company’s work. Since 2018, he has worked on over 50 projects studying hospitality mobility, gentrification patterns, sustainability goal measurement, social listening indicators, and the effect of sharing economies on urban and suburban landscapes.

International governments, mass-focused businesses, and first-mover firms enjoy effective solutions through a wide array of industries and platforms thanks to Mike’s background in driving successful conversions across mixed media. You can see his work everywhere, from Disney movie campaigns to government infrastructure dashboards in Australia.

Links and Resources:

• Oniracom
• @dlawekim on Facebook
• @mikewald on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m working with CEO “Tom” on his origin story. He says he hasn’t thought about the details of it for years, and he’s getting a little teary-eyed at the thought.

When it comes time to share it publicly, Tom declares it’s a non-starter. (Read: What will his employees think of him?)

To ease his fears, I tell him, “What if one person is changed by hearing your story? Is it worth it now?”

After contemplating that scenario carefully, he agrees. And {spoiler alert!} not only does his personal story resonate like crazy throughout his organization, he gets such good feedback from it that he starts sharing it with his prospects too.

Many times it’s us who get in our own way and block ourselves due to fear of being judged. And all the while, we prevent what could be a beautiful experience on the other side. If we share the stories that matter deeply to us instead, it just may help someone hear it who needs it the most in that exact moment. Not to mention, the vulnerability of sharing our true, personal story allows others to like and trust us faster.

So in this latest installment of the “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” series, I focus on powering through problems as related to storytelling. You’ll hear about my philosophy on perfection, how to condense your stories down, and how a story arsenal prepares you for different storytelling opportunities and scenarios. I also answer questions like:

How do you fix any tendency to ramble in your storytelling? What dictates the length of your story? What do you do when you’ve prepared your story but when it’s time to tell it, your mind goes blank?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What you should strive for in lieu of perfection in your stories
• How to know which story details to keep and which ones to cut
• Why you always want to start with a story

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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As my grandma Moo approaches her 100th birthday, she tells me she wants a kitty. What grandma wants, grandma gets. So I start my kitty hunt, deciding that an older feline will do the trick.

After hours of searching, I come across the dream kitty at Santa Barbara Humane. Her name’s Maribel, and I fall in love with her immediately. But I can’t get out that day to adopt her because of an Improv show I have to do that night. So I call and ask them to please hold on to this cat until the next morning.

The person on the other end, however, lets me know that they have a first come, first served policy for adoptions. And she can’t break the policy even after I explain that it’s for my 100-year-old grandmother.

“If the kitty isn’t adopted, she’s yours first thing in the morning,” she says.

So the next morning, my husband Mark and I get in the car in the pouring rain and make a stop at Petco for supplies on the two-hour drive to Santa Barbara Humane’s Santa Maria Campus. When we get there I announce, “We’re here to adopt Maribel.” Just then I notice another couple in the waiting area who says, “Oh, we’re here to adopt Maribel too.” My heart sinks. We’re five minutes too late from being first.

This other couple goes into the room to meet Maribel. We wait. When they reemerge they share that she won’t come out from under her chair to greet them, so they’ve decided to adopt another cat!

Hurray! Mark and I still have a shot at this and rush into the room. And wouldn’t you know it? Just as we sit down on the floor, this dream kitty for Moo instantly comes right out, plops herself down in Mark’s lap and starts purring away. (I secretly think she was hiding from the other couple on purpose because she knew we were the right humans to adopt her.)

Happy endings to stories like that happen every day, and today’s special guest gets to witness them personally. Kerri Burns is the CEO of Santa Barbara Humane. In this episode, she talks about what the Humane Society is all about, shares stories of some of the pets she’s fostered, reveals the three different types of cats, and discusses how the organization in Santa Barbara works with animals and people to make sure adoptions are a great fit for both. She also answers curious questions like:

How does a chihuahua in dire straits show the good intentions people can have? How is the Humane Society part of a bigger whole? And what amazing things does Santa Barbara Human do for animals (and humans)?

What you will learn in this episode:

• What it means to think from the paws up
• What misconception always comes up regarding stories of sheltered animals
• How you can help change the story for animals in shelters

Who is Kerri?

Kerri Burns has served several roles in the Humane Society and other animal rights organizations across the country. She was the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson. Then she served as the President of Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando before moving on as Interim Executive Director of the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, Illinois.

Previously, Kerri also assisted animals through some of the country’s greatest animal disasters through Animal Emergency Services Programs for the American Humane Association. She’s been recognized for her educational outreach on various animal welfare topics with the American Humane Association’s Dennis White Award and for her management of charitable giving for PetSmart Charities®. Currently, she’s the Chief Executive Officer for Santa Barbara Humane.

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Everything is dark. I’m walking around on stage, selling the idea that I can’t see anything. And it’s giving me a golden opportunity to find the truth of the story.

You see, I’m playing Carol, the lead in a play called Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer. In it, a sculptor and his fiancée (me) borrow expensive antique furniture from our out-of-town neighbors to try and impress an art collector. But then the power goes out (hence the black), and everything goes wrong (hence the comedy).

What’s really cool about the experience, though, is that the lighting is transposed. When the stage is lit, the cast is seemingly in darkness, and the characters can’t see anything. But only when the stage goes dark can the characters finally be able to see themselves and their surroundings.

This ended up being my favorite play to perform because I got to embody a character so far removed from what I’m used to. My special guest Brittany Ishibashi is no stranger to this experience. She lives her life immersed in story and has been a working actress since high school!

In this episode, she and I talk about playing characters, effective elements to enhance storytelling, and discuss questions like:

What’s the inside-out vs. outside-in approach to playing a character, and why is it crucial to gaining audience empathy? Why is an audience of just one person all you really need? And how can you easily and effectively open a story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How characters and story (in all its forms) can truly change or save lives
• How to encourage the spirit of play in your life and business
• Why music is such a universal part of the human experience in storytelling

Who is Brittany?

Born in Orange County, California, Brittany Ishibashi was raised by musical parents. Seeing her love for the arts, they encouraged her to try out the different facets of the entertainment world. Her passion for musical theater emerged at a young age, and she became a triple threat in dance, music, and acting.

Brittany got her first big break right after graduating from high school when she was cast on J.J. Abrams’ Felicity. She continued her education in Theatre, Film, and Television at UCLA while establishing her career and has gone on to work consistently over the years on numerous TV series. She’s been on shows such as This Is Us, Political Animals, Grey’s Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, The Office, Supernatural, and more.

Most recently, you can watch Brittany play the villainous Tina Minoru on Marvel’s Runaways, Claire Cormier on the CW’s Tom Swift, and Tamiko Masuda on CBS’ Hawaii Five-0. She also played the villain Karai in Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeff, and their three children.

Links and Resources:

• @BrittIshibashi on Instagram
• @BrittIshibashi on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m at one of my favorite theaters at the end of a long day rehearsing speakers for the TEDx stage. I’m packing up my stuff when Asa, the artistic director of the theater, says to me, “You should try out for our upcoming play this season. We have auditions next week.”

Sure, I love the theater. But the last time I was in a play was back in elementary school. I am not an actor! I don’t have any acting experience or training or know the first thing about auditions!

I tell Asa that I’m planning on sticking to my speaking career. However, she insists that I’d be really good at it and to at least give it a try.

One of my favorite things to say - which longtime listeners have heard several times - is, “Things will either go well, or you’ll have a story to tell on the other side.”

And that’s what I had to remind myself of at that moment. With my heart racing, I tell Asa I’ll give it a go... and {spoiler alert} I’ve been performing ever since.

My gentle (or not-so-gentle, depending on your perspective) encourager Asa is my special guest on today’s episode. We answer questions such as:

What aspects of bringing a character to life are important to storytelling? What small things incorporated into character portrayals can make them unique and identifiable? How can you ensure you always win at storytelling?

Along the way, she also shares a “when I got in trouble” story involving her childhood fictional hero Pippi Longstocking, the play she did that necessitated a psychiatrist and the incarcerated to pull it off successfully, and a motto about failure you might want to adopt yourself.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why it’s so important for a character to have an “alibi”
• Why the way you portray a character can be such a powerful story element
• What makes a character so much more visible in an audience’s mind

Who is Asa?

Swedish-born actress, writer, and director Asa Olsson has had a passion for the theater since she appeared in Sleeping Beauty as a kindergartener. In her homeland, her long stage and TV career focused on issues around equality and social and political issues. It wasn’t long before she realized that experience could serve to help girls and women get their voices heard.

Asa immigrated to the U.S. in 1980 where she, her husband Randy, and their five-year-old daughter made the city of Carpinteria, CA their home. She spent over 30 years promoting the performing arts as a board member and the Artistic Director of the Carpinteria Community Theater (now called The Alcazar Theatre), including promoting female voices by building a drama program for girls aged 5 through 18.

In addition to promoting the performing arts in her community, Asa has enjoyed working sporadically as an actress in Santa Barbara, College City, and even in her native Sweden. She’s also served her community on the socio-political level, spending 10 years as a member of the Santa Barbara Public Health Department which resulted in a public smoking ban in Carpinteria.

Links and Resources:

• The Alcazar Theatre
• info@thealcazar.org
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in the middle of rebranding my business. There are so many things I can do, so many things I want to do, yet I also want my brand positioning to be clear and attractive. I want others to love my brand as much as I do. As I’m working on this, I see a cartoon by Gaping Void that says, “Don’t be the best in the world at what you do. Be the only person in the world at what you do.”

Seeing that makes everything click. I think, “Yes! That describes my work which is unique in so many ways.” I already kind of am the only person doing what I do. And I really want to highlight that… but I need help. So my husband Mark, who I’ve grabbed in my excitement, says to me, “We gotta talk to Peter. This is his zone of genius.”

That first conversation with Peter changes everything. What he does is revolutionary in so many ways. And I’ve brought him onto the show today to discuss exactly what it is that he does and how he helps redefine business.

If you want to know:

What is category design, how does it help you understand your audience better, and what is the most common challenge when people start approaching business with this new way of thinking? How do you use it to attract potential customers or clients? And how did a customer survey company use category design and find itself worth several billion dollars more than competitors like Survey Monkey?

Get a pen and your replay button ready because this episode is chock full of priceless lessons you’ll want to listen to again and again!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to rethink your business positioning and make it unique
• How POV storytelling in marketing messages differs from conventional marketing
• How to use category design to spark intrigue in your business

Who is Peter?

As a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Peter Goldie has spent the past decade as an angel investor and used his knack for creating and launching market-dominating products to advise on business, strategy, and marketing. He honed his marketing expertise while in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble where he built revenue for brands such as Crisco, Pringles, and Ivory. Now his firm advises companies on the emerging concept of category design for business.

In addition, Peter founded two startups and has held several operational roles at different companies over the years. He served as GM and SVP at the top digital e-commerce agency Fluid and was the GM and VP at Macromedia where he helped make Flash the most distributed software worldwide. He also took on the position of GM at Alias/Wavefront where he assisted in the creation of the Computer-Aided Industrial Design (CAID) category and the launching of the world’s leading 3D animation product, Maya (which won an Oscar for scientific and technical achievement).

Links and Resources:

• Category Design
• peter@categorydesign.co
• @pgoldie on LinkedIn
• Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney
• Niche Down: How to Become Legendary by Being Different by Christopher Lochhead and Heather Clancy
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s knife training time in my martial arts class. I’m on the mat when Grandmaster says, “Master Kymberlee, I want you to be my partner for this demonstration.”

Oh boy. I know what this means. Usually, demonstrations with me as his partner don’t turn out well… for me, that is.

But I can’t say no to Grandmaster, so up I go. I meet Grandmaster in front of the class, and he executes this flawless knife technique. During multiple demonstrations, no matter what I do, no matter how many counter-moves I try, it doesn’t work against him!

My turn. It’s time to try the technique on someone else in class. Except I can’t replicate what Grandmaster just did, either.

Sensing my frustration, he comes over and tells me, “Make this your own Master Kymberlee. There’s always a way.”

Aha! So I turn the knife over, reverse my direction, and come in with a completely different series of moves. And guess what - it works!

There’s always a way. And my special guest today has used that concept to change perspectives, outcomes, and even laws. As a writer and actor, Matthew-Lee Erlbach also advocates on behalf of the Arts and those who work in them.

If you’re curious to know:

How do you help others view advocacy as on behalf of an industry instead of a cause so that it’ll get economic and legislative priority? How did the sitcom Will & Grace influence the unfolding story of gay rights (while displaying an essential storytelling element)? Why are 1922 and 2022 synonymous, and how were Arts and Culture at the forefront of the aftermath of events 100 years ago?

Then tune in as we discuss the power of influencing where the story goes and how doing so can make history!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How personal stories of American workers have changed the country
• Why we as human beings crave stories so much
• What one thing you want to ensure you include in your story

Who is Matthew-Lee?

Matthew-Lee Erlbach is an actor, writer, and labor activist from Chicago and New York. He has written for Adam McKay's Kings of America, starring Amy Adams (Netflix); Masters of Sex (Showtime); Gypsy (Netflix); We Are the Champions (Netflix), for WWE, MTV, and Nickelodeon. As a playwright, his work has appeared Off-Bway, regionally, and at Steppenwolf, where he is currently under commission, and where his play The Doppelgänger (An International Farce) premiered.

He has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Puffin Foundation, and is a HUMANITAS New Voices recipient. Beyond his work with Habitat for Humanity and individuals who are houseless, he is a proponent of ethical AI and ethical transhumanism. A Co-Founder of Arts Workers United and their national Be An Arts Hero campaign, he has co-authored legislation, built national campaigns, and works with Congress to make Arts and Culture Workers an economic and legislative priority.

Links and Resources:

• Be An Arts Hero
• Matthew-Lee Erlbach
• @thismatthewlee on Instagram
• @thismatthewlee on Twitter
• @Matthew-LeeErlbach on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Growing up, every summer my family and I’d go off the coast of Seattle to Bainbridge Island to stay with family friends Bob and Denise. One summer, Denise shares with me that she and Bob are in a play while we’re in town. This means I’ll be on my own - unless, “You want to usher?” she asks.

As a 14-year-old kid, I’m thinking, “Yeah, right! I’m not here to work! I’m here to relax and play!” Yet Bob convinces me to go to the rehearsal that night before making my final decision.

Off we go. When we arrive and I walk up to the theater, open the doors, and proceed to… have my breath taken away!

I’m standing in front of this huge set for Fiddler on the Roof. People are running around in costumes with music playing, warming up their voices, and practicing their lines. I’m immediately hooked!

I turn to Denise and say, “Not only am I going to usher, I’m doing it for every performance until I have to board the plane home.”

Walking into that theater for the first time was like a dream. And dreams are often inspired by reality because my special guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast is an actress, singer, performer, and advocate. Brooke Ishibashi has been part of the arts and culture sector for her entire life and she joins me this week to share tremendous insights and ideas on stories and storytelling.

In this episode, we discuss her huge mobilization effort for protecting the arts and culture sector of the U.S. through the grassroots campaign she co-founded, as well as answer questions like:

Why is storytelling so critically important in our society today? What’s happened to the arts and culture sector of the economy due to the pandemic? Why is truth such an essential storytelling ingredient?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How COVID has impacted arts workers and the domino effect on the economy
• How a grassroots campaign pivoted when faced with a story problem
• How to tell a truthful story that isn’t yours

Who is Brooke?

Brooke Ishibashi is a singer, actor, and advocate. Her recent work includes to the yellow house at La Jolla Playhouse, Cambodian Rock Band at South Coast Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and La Jolla Playhouse (where she developed and originated the role of Neary), and the critically-acclaimed NYCC Encores! production of Into the Woods, which will be transferring for a limited Broadway run this summer.

She is also the National Councilor for the Actors’ Equity Association, a NYCLU Artist Ambassador, a core member of Fair Wage Onstage, and the co-founder of Be an #ArtsHero/Arts Workers United, an intersectional grassroots campaign for proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy. *Arts & Culture contributes over $919 billion to the U.S. economy and employs over 5.2 million arts workers. You can learn more about the campaign at BeAnArtsHero.com.

Links and Resources:

• Be An Arts Hero
• Into the Woods
• @BeAnArtsHero on Instagram
• @BeAnArtsHero on Twitter
• @BeAnArtsHero on Facebook
• @BeAnArtsHero on TikTok
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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An email pops into my inbox with an opportunity I want to jump at right away. A very seasoned Improv performer is coming to town to do a workshop. Since I love attending workshops, I don’t even hesitate. Without reading past the first sentence, I sign up.

On the day of the workshop, I get there just as it’s starting. The Improv instructor sitting at the piano sees me and says, “Hi, are you here for the musical Improv class?” as everyone else in the room turns around to look at me too.

Gulp... musical Improv? I have many skills, but music isn’t one of them. He invites me to sit down yet what I really want to do is turn around and run out the door. However, with all eyes on me I feel I have no choice. I sit.

Despite my several years of training in Improv comedy, that workshop still ranks among the most terrifying experiences ever! But I learn something important that day: If you don’t have the talent to sing, your attempts can make for some good Improv scenes. {Read: guaranteed hilarity.}

Speaking of unexpected performances, my guest today knows how to take risks and take control of where he wants his story to go, despite a perceived lack of talent. In 2004, William Hung managed to capture the support of fans of American Idol with his rejected audition of Ricky Martin’s hit song, “She Bangs”. And now, he’s here to talk about how to live a bold and confident life on the Storytelling School Podcast!

In this episode, we discuss taking control of your story, containing your fear, sharing your unique point of view with others, and more. We also answer questions like:

How can you adapt to different situations and turn a negative into a positive story? How do you take that first step when trying to do something outside your comfort zone? What should you keep in mind when invited to speak in front of an audience? What needs to be present in any story you share with an audience? And why is storytelling so important in our world today?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to take the reins of your own story in any given scenario
• How to stand behind your unique perspective and let go of the fear of judgment
• How a Toastmasters technique can help you uplevel your storytelling

Who is William?

William Hung is someone who’s willing to bet on himself. In 2004, he was just a college kid with a Hollywood dream, like so many others. So he auditioned on American Idol and received a resounding rejection from the (in)famous Simon Cowell.

Instead of letting that rejection define him negatively, William took that gamble of an audition and turned it around into a positive. He became a symbol of hope for people who desired to chase their dreams. Since then, he has become an entertainer, speaker, and professional poker player who tells his story (beyond what you’ve seen on TV) in hopes that it helps others to live life more boldly and confidently.

Links and Resources:

• William Hung
• @williamhungofficial on Instagram
• @williamhung2022 on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My client arrives to rehearse her high-stakes keynote. She’s giving this speech in front of thousands upon thousands of people. Before she begins, I say to her, “Today, we’re going to start at the end. So go ahead and run through your closing paragraph now.”

That throws her off. She responds, “I’ve memorized my talk in a very specific order. Isn’t that going to mess me up?”

Then I ask her how many times she’s rehearsed her opening paragraph.

“I don’t know, maybe at least 75 times?”

And the closing of her talk?

“Oh. Maybe a handful--five?”

Aha! Speakers tend to focus on the opening. They go through it from the beginning, make a mistake before getting to the end, start over, make a mistake again, start over, and over. And over. And over. It’s like a pilot focused on getting the takeoff right but not the landing! And it goes on this way for days or weeks.

When I explain this to my client, she says, “Kymberlee, I never thought of it that way,” which segues nicely with my special guest today. Sun Yi runs an award-winning digital agency that focuses on helping personal brands tell their story by challenging their thinking. And his actual tagline is “I never thought of it that way.” In this episode, he and I discuss things like:

What elevates a story (and how is a narrative different from a story)? How do you know you’re being as vulnerable enough in your storytelling (and what’s the difference between vulnerability and a sob story)? Where do people using stories for business purposes tend to screw up? And how can you use storytelling in your brand when there’s no conflict in your personal story?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to correctly set up your story for an emotional payoff
• What mistakes entrepreneurs make when telling personal branding stories
• How to engage in “micro-storytelling” for social media audiences (and algorithms)

Who is Sun?

Sun Yi founded Night Owls, an award-winning digital branding agency based in New York City. For over 12 years, he’s used his passion for personal branding to help brands go from zero to over a billion dollars in revenue. His company has a well-earned reputation for its expert branding, marketing, and copywriting knowledge, as well as its high-quality website design and client service.

Sun built his firm with culture in mind. After starting and quitting so many times, he decided to put community first and create a collaborative environment where he and his employees felt passionate about putting love and care into their work. As a result, Night Owls has attracted household names like Spotify, Columbia University, and the American Red Cross as well as best-selling international speakers and authors like Mel Robbins, Gabby Bernstein, and Jay Shetty as part of their clientele.

Sun also loves teaching and creating educational content on Instagram for personal brands. In his spare time, he enjoys motorcycles, listening to audiobooks, watching Youtube videos, and doing yoga. You can learn more about him and Night Owls at his website.

Links and Resources:

• Sun Yi and Night Owls
• @SunYiCo on Youtube
• @sun.yi and @nightowls on Instagram
• @sun.yi.nightowls and @nightowls on Facebook
• @sun_yi and @nightowls on Twitter
• @sunyi-nightowls and night-owl-interactive on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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You’re sitting in the audience at an international technology conference. So far, it’s a never-ending carousel of charts, graphs and statistical data from every speaker who walks onstage.

But then one guy changes the game. Instead of throwing information at you, he uses a meaningful and very personal story to tie his presentation together. You find yourself engaged in his story. You can see yourself in his story and relate. You feel more connected to this speaker at this moment in time than any of the others at the entire conference. And that right there makes his talk a huge success.

That guy, by the way? He just so happens to be a new client I’ve been helping to develop that speech. His original plan was to be like the other speakers because he thought that was what the audience would want. But when I tell him, “No one cares about your bar charts. They care about you and your perspective on artificial intelligence and where it's going,” we restructure his talk accordingly.

So why did his would-be dud of a speech turn into a winner? It happened because we used Applied Storytelling: purposefully telling a story with a specific result in mind or in a specific situation or scenario.

Today, I’m back with my partner in crime (aka awesome husband) to continue our “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” podcast series. Mark asks me:

How do you balance being personal and vulnerable with being your best self in a professional setting? How important is story in scenarios that happen on a regular basis, like team meetings? How do you tailor your story in a very serious situation?

In this episode, I answer those questions and, in the process, reveal how you can choose different stories for different work or business-related scenarios. We talk about stories in the context of job interviews, boardroom meetings, fundraising, social media and email marketing, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why storytelling gives you the edge in job interviews and the workplace
• What questions to ask yourself when preparing stories for social media
• How to make stories as effective in written form as they are in verbal form

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling Masterclass

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I’m visiting my grandma and she’s totally focused on a piece of paper. Naturally, I ask her what she’s looking at.

She tells me they’re letters from my grandfather to her and her to my grandfather during wartime. Some are torn, some are yellowed from age, some are typed and some handwritten. I notice there’s a suitcase next to her filled with hundreds of these aged letters.

I’m curious, so I ask if I can read one. “Oh no no no,” she quickly responds. “A few of these are a little too risqué for you.”

She promises that these letters will be mine one day… when she’s gone.

I’ll never forget that conversation with her that afternoon. My grandparent’s love story during wartime, the legacy of that love, and the way they saw the world are encapsulated and preserved in those letters forever.

My guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast knows and appreciates the power of the written word. Tricia Lee is not only recognized as one of the new top writers in Hollywood with many accolades for writing (and directing) to her name already, but her stories stick with you long after you hear them.

If you’re curious to know:

How can a different perspective influence stories you’ve seen a lot of times already? How did a wrong number become the impetus behind an award-winning feature film script? What can the animal world teach us about humanity?

Then listen in as we discuss family and life incidents, unlikely friendships, the impact of putting meaning and feeling into your stories, overcoming writer’s block, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why truth (not necessarily facts) is key to a great story
• How journaling can help you solve “blank page syndrome”
• Why your story matters, even if you think it doesn’t

Who is Tricia?

Tricia Lee is an AAPI female filmmaker who grew up in Toronto, Canada. She specializes in creating both heart-warming and heart-breaking but also humorously uplifting films. With her Canadian perspective, she likes to tell stories that look at the American Dream and explore ideas around voicelessness, belonging, and shared humanity.

Tricia’s Good Chance feature script, which is being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Janet Yang, was on the CAPE LIST and was also the Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Screenplay Competition grand prize winner and the Cinequest Best Feature Screenplay winner. It was also a top 50 finalist in The Academy Nicholl Fellowship, a top 14 finalist for the Universal Studios Writer's Program, and was selected for the prestigious Producers Guild of America Power of Diversity Master Workshop.

In addition to these accolades, Tricia has directed three award-winning features such as Blood Hunters and Silent Retreat, with the former sold to Hulu and presented at Cannes and the latter released theatrically across Canada and sold to NBC Universal’s Chiller Network. Currently, she’s the showrunner and sole writer of eight episodes of 108 Media’s animated anthology, A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts. Soon, she will direct a biopic about William Hung (of American Idol fame) that she wrote with Don Handfield, and Tony and Tim Bui serving as producers.

Links and Resources:

• Tricia Lee
• @tricialdirector on Twitter
• @tricialeedirector on Instagram
• @tricialeedirector on Facebook
• @tricialeedirector on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook
• Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling Masterclass

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I’m working with a new client on a high-stakes speech about an unprecedented business idea. As we’re working together, I show him how he can use storytelling to help his idea come to life and connect to his audience. So he sends me his first draft... and boy, is it a surprise!

In our sessions, he is always direct and to the point. But while reading his speech, I realize he’s also freaking hilarious! Not only will the audience be rolling on the floor laughing at his humor, his storytelling will help his business idea to really take hold.

It’s this pairing of comedy, storytelling, and innovative ideas that audiences will not be able to forget.

My guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast, Anna Keizer, lives her life in story. In this episode, we’re going to dig into comedy and so much more! We answer questions like:

Why is there such a misconception about comedy’s place in the world? What’s the difference between forcing humor and just letting it come naturally? What makes The Office work so well as a comedy show? How do background and character perspective affect story quality? How can “forced fun” be a good thing?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why comedy is necessary in our lives
• What two storytelling elements make a story great
• Why escapism through storytelling is valid, healthy, and boosts creativity

Who is Anna?

Anna Keizer is a writer, film producer, and podcaster. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, finished her Master of Arts in Film Studies at Chapman University, and graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program. She also wrote and executive produced the dark comedy short “She Had It Coming” which was an Official Selection of over two dozen film festivals and won several awards on the festival circuit.

Originally from Chicago, Anna moved to California and now calls Los Angeles home. She currently co-hosts the podcast ‘80s Movie Montage in her spare time, alongside her husband, Derek Dehanke.

Links and Resources:

• @annakeizer on Twitter
• @annakeizer on Instagram
• ‘80s Movie Montage on Twitter
• ‘80’s Movie Montage on Instagram
• “SHIC” on Twitter
• “SHIC” on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m texting back and forth with my oldest friend Jeff when he says, “We saw a clip yesterday of The Blob. Do you remember us watching that as kids?”

Boy, do I! Just the mere mention of the title and all of these emotions come flooding back. I was around 11 when I saw that movie, and it was so terrifying that it has stuck with me to this day.

Why can I remember that movie so vividly? I can remember the pictures, what I felt, and even exactly where I was sitting (or hiding) when I watched it.

The ability to tell a story that evokes such strong emotions is what makes your story memorable. And my guest today is incredibly skilled at doing just that. Gus Krieger writes, produces, and directs and is here to talk about all the things!

What should you not do when describing moments or characters? What do a street vendor and Luke Skywalker have in common? Why do stories have the ability to drive others to action, both small and grand? In this episode, Gus and I discuss and answer these questions, his technique for battling the “blank page blues”, and much more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to dramatize true life experience in storytelling
• How to know if your protagonist is relatable to your audience
• What insultingly common mistake new storytellers must avoid

Who is Gus?

Gus Krieger is a producer, director, screenplay writer, and author. His first original screenplay production The Killing Room stars Academy Award winner Timothy Hutton and nominee Chloe Sevigny. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Halo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), it premiered in 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival.

Gus also wrote and directed the horror short “Ol’ Stan Levid” which premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre for Screamfest. He also carried out rewrites on the feature film Operation Endgame which stars Bob Odenkirk and Zack Galifianakis. He went on to write, produce, and direct The Binding, a feature thriller starring Amy Gumenick (Arrow), Max Adler (Glee, Sully), and Leon Russom (True Grit, The Big Lebowski).

My Name is Myeisha, Gus’ sophomore feature film, received worldwide acclaim and took home Slamdance, Seattle, and Boston Underground awards, among others. Warner Bros. Entertainment plans to adapt his debut novel Superworld into a feature film directed by Jason Bateman.

Links and Resources:

• @MrGusK on Twitter
• My Name Is Myeisha
• The Great Family short film
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I am at a speaking event with my friend Chris who is an incredible photographer. As we’re chatting, I ask him, “How do you take the amazing pictures that you take?”

He says, “It’s easy. If you want to take interesting pictures, be interesting.”

Whoa.

It sounds so simple, and yet at that moment it completely changed my perspective.

It’s a lesson I apply to storytelling too. The more you design your life to be interesting, the more you give yourself the opportunity to collect better stories for your arsenal. And as you collect those stories, your creativity kicks in.

My guest Mari Reisberg, MA, LPC knows all about tapping into creativity in storytelling and beyond. She joins me today to cover questions like:

How can creativity influence the stories you tell? What’s the link between mundane activities (or even doing nothing) and creative thinking? And what questions can you ask yourself to transform into a more creative storyteller?

Listen in as we take a deep dive into preconceived notions about creativity and the role that playfulness and safety play in creative expression.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to tap into your innate creativity as a storyteller
• What you can do to bring more play into your life
• Why safety is the foundation of creativity

Who is Mari?

Raised in Portland, Oregon, Mari Reisberg, MA, LPC has always embraced life creatively. She’s a licensed professional counselor, performer, podcaster, and creativity coach who’s lived in New York City, studied angel therapy in Hawaii, sang with an Irish band, and taught graduate-level psychology classes. Through it all, she’s continued her own creativity and personal growth journey while being a lifelong mindfulness and meditation student and teacher.

Mari also holds a BFA in Acting from the Hartt School and an MA in Somatic Counseling Psychology, Dance/Movement Therapy from Naropa University. Currently, she works for a substance abuse treatment center as the director of utilization review and internship programming while also running her Sustaining Creativity business. Her company is about discovering a safe and trustworthy foundation within yourself to take creative risks. Working with performers and non-performers alike, she helps them spark, grow, sustain, transform, and share their creativity because she believes that life is just more fun when you tap into that internal resource.

Links and Resources:

• Sustaining Creativity
• Sustaining Creativity Podcast
• @sustainingcreativity on Instagram
• @sustainingcreativity on Facebook
• Mari Reisberg on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m teaching a storytelling workshop to 100 non-profit executive directors when one of the CEOs raises her hand. She says, “I don’t have a story. I run the local Humane Society and we depend on donations. None of the donors care about my personal story. They want to hear about the animals.”

So I ask her why she wanted to become CEO in the first place.

“That’s easy,” she says. “I rescued a kitten when I was young and from then on I knew I wanted to spend my life helping animals.”

Her answer to my question is her story.

It’s the one she goes on to tell donors who get to know, like, and trust her on a level like never before. And in the months that follow, sharing that story creates a huge competitive advantage in raising money for her local branch of the Humane Society.

That’s the name of the game, folks! And it’s what I’m digging into in this episode as the podcast series “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller…” continues. This time we are focusing on how and why to use stories in business.

In the episode, I discuss why using personal stories for business matters, even when dealing with serious issues. I cover the trust factor that stories engender, using story in an environment unaccustomed to it, experimenting with story length, the importance of crafting your story instead of just shooting it from the hip, and much more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories are applicable in any type of business communication
• How to come up with stories for specific business purposes
• How to trim your story down to three minutes or less

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• “How Story Can Directly Enhance Your Business Success” with O.P. Almaraz
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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As my birthday approaches, my husband suggests a really nice dinner. I (half) jokingly respond with, “New choice!”

He ups the ante to a theme park visit. I quickly respond with, “New choice!”

Then he says, “How about we go to Japan?” I am ALL IN on that idea.

You know you’ve found the love of your life when you and your spouse play improvisation games in normal conversation. (Well, that or you’ve been doing Improv for a long time).

My guest, Rick Hall, also knows all about Improv. He’s an actor, writer, and great storyteller himself (as you’ll discover with the many enthralling stories he shares on the show today).

If you want to know:

Why choose to sing a story as opposed to just talking it out? AND Why does it better benefit your story to be more ruthless in your editing? Then you’ll enjoy my discussion with Rick as we dip our toes into the world of musical Improv and storytelling lessons from growing up in a small town, including the importance of cutting off the fat and removing distractions in your stories.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to edit your story to include only what belongs
• How stories can change over time while the core still remains
• How to pull a life lesson out of a story

Who is Rick?

You may recognize Rick Hall. He’s an actor, writer, and storyteller who has appeared on stage and in commercials, movies, and TV Shows. He’s graced audiences with his presence on shows like 24, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, NCIS, and The Middle.

Rick has a passion for writing and telling original stories. He developed many of these stories into his award-winning independent short film “Slice of Pie” and a one-man show called “Pigboy”. Currently, he coaches storytellers and helps ministers hone their sermon delivery skills. You can listen to his stories on his podcast and visit his website for more information.

Links and Resources:

• Rick Hall
• So Sez Rick
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in an incredible business as the director of the International Flash Forward Film Festival. Yet, I look around me and notice that the majority of the speakers and attendees are male.

“No problem,” I tell myself. “I’ll just get my MBA, and they’ll take me seriously in this male-dominated tech industry.”

So I do that.

Then I decide, “They’ll take me even more seriously if I become an author.”

So I do that. Twice.

A few years later, I’m at my first TED conference and see plenty of men and women.

And I discover that those external validations don’t drive them. They don’t care who wrote what or who has what degree. Instead, they’re driven by ideas, insight, and creativity that can change the world.

My experience of the story I was telling myself completely shifted that day. I already had everything I needed inside of me.

My guest today, Elena Daccus, has also experienced being the only woman in a male-dominated environment. She went from being the sole woman in the boardroom to helping people worldwide find their voice. In this episode, she and I discuss questions like:

What story do you tell yourself when you stand out among those around you? How can you start breaking down stories you tell yourself that no longer serve you? What’s the biggest mistake people in business make?

You’ll also hear us talk about the teacher who tried to impose their limited reality on others, stories you’d like others to tell about you when you die, and the power of seeing the success you want to attain in your mind’s eye.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How you can begin to overcome stories that source your limiting beliefs
• What extremely successful people have in common with each other
• Why storytelling is key to your business messaging and success, especially now

Who is Elena?

When she was a girl, Elena Daccus wanted to be the head of a large company. When revealing this, she was told that the best thing she could be was the local factory secretary. For years, this story someone else told her about herself held her back. Years later, she went from being a girl with limiting beliefs and mindset issues to the youngest and only female across the world’s largest boardroom tables.

Elena is the go-to high-ticket messaging and sales expert who’s bought and sold over 50 companies worth $10 billion and opened the lids to hundreds of businesses online. With 20 years of mergers and acquisitions experience under her belt, she knows exactly what does and doesn’t work, what does and doesn’t sell, and how to create a business that thrives with or without you. She can show you how to drastically simplify your business and put a halt to 90% of what’s keeping you stuck, so you can reach the next level with one powerful message on the virtual stage.

Links and Resources:

• Bossy Heels Podcast
• @bossyheelsclub on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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A theater friend of mine sends me an email. He’s directing a play and wants me to be in it. Yet my schedule is so crazy, I don’t think I can fit it in, and I definitely don’t want to let the other actors down. He insists that we can work around my schedule and then drops a bit of a bombshell. It’s a one-act play, and I’m the only actor in it.

My internal dialogue starts dialing up the panic mode almost immediately:

“Sure, I’m a speaker. I’m an Improv performer. I’ve acted in plays, but I’ve never been in one by myself! Can I really do this?”

The more the fear sets in, though, the more I realize I have to do this. So I tell him I’ll go for it, and we create this crazy character without constraint. I push myself in ways I never have before to bring this character to life.

My guest today, Leah Sprecher, lives her life in stories. She is equally at home on stage and screen, touring the country performing in musicals and in guest stints on popular TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Blackish. What I’m most excited to talk with her about in this episode, however, is her experience debuting two original one-woman shows as the character of Barbara.

If you’re curious to know:

Why might it be easier to express feelings and vulnerability as a character rather than yourself? And how can characters help you overcome stage fright? You’ll hear about all of this and why you don’t need to start from scratch when building a character, the battle between responding to fans as a character versus yourself, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to infuse characters with real-life feelings
• Why collaboration can make a world of difference in your performance
• Why relatability and joy are essential for great storytelling

Who is Leah?

Leah Sprecher earned her B.A. in Theatre from UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theatre Program. She has multiple stage, television, and musical credits to her name. Her tours around the country include Broadway musicals like 42nd Street, Happy Days, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She’s also performed in Cinderella at Papermill Playhouse and in Pirates of Penzance, Happy Days, and Darling Grenadine at Goodspeed Opera House.

In addition, Leah has done guest stints on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live and Blackish and IFC’s Maron. She also performs as her alter ego Barbara Dixon, a character who satirizes autobiographical cabaret shows that starred people like Barbara Cook, Elaine Stritch, and Liza Minnelli. She debuted original one-woman shows Old Lady Parts and Everything’s Coming Up Barbara as an alumnus of the Groundlings Sunday Company. And recently, she’s sung and toured as a member of The Bombshells, which blends Top 40 hits with tight harmonies popularized by The Andrews Sisters.

Along with her acting work, Leah has written songs for institutions like Invisalign, Funny or Die, and Betch: A Sketch Show. And as a co-founder of Broadway Babies, she teaches classes and performs shows for kids of all ages.

Links and Resources:

• Broadway Barbara
• @broadwaybarbaraofficial on Instagram
• @broadwaybarbaraofficial on TikTok
• @broadwaybabiesshow on Instagram
• @leah_sprecher on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“What’s one of your earliest memories?” my friend Darrell asks me. At first, it’s hard to remember. As I’m thinking back and back… I finally have one. Poetry! My grandmother and I loved to (and still do!) write, recite, and memorize poems.

I remember one poem in particular to this day: “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out
She'd scour the pots and scrub the pans
Candy the yams and spice the hams
And though her daddy would scream and shout
She simply would not take the garbage out
And so, it piled up to the ceilings
Coffee grounds, potato peelings…

It continues on and I know the whole poem by heart to this day.

What’s really crazy though? It isn’t just the poem I remember – I can still see the accompanying image of a looming, tottering garbage pile threatening to fall over.

Even as an adult, that poem and image are etched in my memory.

My special guest today, Mike Gordon, has spent a lifetime illustrating books of all kinds. For 36 years, Mike has illustrated over 400 books and brought words to life in the form of images.

In this episode, we’re taking the story and going beyond the words! We discuss going from blank page to the first drawn line, knowing when you’re done drawing a character, the desire (or lack thereof) of recreating past characters, and the love for being an illustrator.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why quality can sometimes take a back seat to quantity
• What does NOT need to be in a story
• Why looking back might actually slow you down

Who is Mike?

British-born Mike Gordon is a designer, illustrator, and caricaturist who brings original, sophisticated styles and techniques to his work. In 1983, the talented and highly experienced artist started freelance illustrating and has illustrated over 150 books. He draws from his international experience in publishing, public relations, journalism, and advertising to aid his projects and improve his skill set.

Mike’s work incorporates fiction and non-fiction and has been seen in over 18 countries. He illustrates and designs for major publishers like HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Random Century, Western Publishing, Walker Books, Reed International, Ladybird, Longman, and Wayland. In addition, he’s produced hundreds of greeting card designs for Hallmark in the U.S. and Gordon Fraser in the U.K., among other international giants.

In his spare time, Mike enters cartoons in worldwide competitions which has added to his global reputation as a top humorous illustrator. Ever since 1993, he’s set up operations in California where he’s continued his stellar career, even gaining a nomination in the National Cartoonists Society Awards.

Links and Resources:

• Mike Gordon Illustration
• Mike Gordon on Amazon
• Breadcrumb Books
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m prepping for a role when my movement coach John asks me, “What animal are you?” I’m confused because I’m playing a police officer from Philadelphia, not an animal. He continues, “We need to infuse your character with an animal. So what kind of animal would a Philadelphia police officer be?”

I honestly have no clue. First, I say I’m a jaguar. But that doesn’t work. He doesn’t think a fox quite fits either, but then he mentions a Doberman Pinscher.

I don’t get it. What does a Doberman have to do with my role?

But here’s the thing: Dobermans are badasses in the canine world. They’re smart, protective, and always on the lookout for danger. You really don’t want to mess with them!

Rehearsals begin and I take on the traits of a Doberman in the way I move my head, my body, and even walk across the stage. It completely transforms my character--just from that one coaching session!

Kalinda Gray spends her life creating characters as her vocation, and today she and I dive into so much goodness about how she does it, where characters matter in storytelling, and so much more! You’ll hear about character and stories as a personal escape, what helps suspend belief the most in storytelling and performance art, and how adaptation helps a business survive through a crisis like COVID when other companies fold.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How fairy-tale princess stories also serve as life lessons
• How to help your audience go along for the ride with you as a storytelling performer
• How storytelling through character can help others with trauma

Who is Kalinda?

From Southern California, Kalinda made the world of performance art and storytelling in all forms her home from a young age. Her parents and high school drama teacher encouraged within her the expression of myth and legend ever since she was five years old. She particularly enjoys works that bring to life historical events and figures like Eva Peron, The Waltons, and Marilyn Monroe.

In the live theater world, Kalinda has performed in over 200 local Southern California productions at the MET, the Blank Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, Segerstrom Hall, the Maverick Theater, and other institutions. She co-founded the comedic improv puppeteering group All Puppet Players and has been involved in original works and creating characters for the stage, screen, and theme parks with Disney, Youtube, Universal Studios Hollywood, actor Cliff Osmond, and television writers Stan Zimmerman and Daniel Knauf.

Kalinda uses her love of fairy tales, impersonations, puppetry, working with children, and event planning to entertain at parties through her Wishing Well Entertainment and Parties company. As the highest-rated company of its kind in Southern California, Wishing Well Entertainment has planned over 6,500 events for all ages to date and is privately sought after by the entertainment industry, A-list celebrities, high-end events, and families.

When not on stage or at an event, Kalinda loves traveling to investigate famous myths and legends of famous places like Transylvania, Glastonbury, and Versailles. She also works in film television, and commercials and is a voice-over artist for video games and web series projects. Currently, she has multimedia projects, essays, and a Salem Witch Trials storytelling tour based on her independent historical research in the works.

Links and Resources:

• Kalinda Gray
• @kalindagray on Instagram
• @kalindathegray on Facebook
• @kalindagray on Tiktok
• Wishing Well Entertainment and Parties
• @wishingwellparties on Instagram
• @wishingwellparties on Facebook
• @wishingwellparties on Tiktok
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m five years old, sitting with my Mom in a crowded movie theater, about to watch my very first film ever. As the lights dim and the movie begins, I become enraptured with the animated cartoon world and the characters. Then, something we call an “inciting incident” in storytelling happens onscreen. When it does, little five-year-old me starts screaming so much that my mom has to take me out of the theater.

I’ve never watched Bambi again to this day (if you’ve seen it you know exactly what inciting incident I’m talking about). Although Mom had no idea an animated movie would have such an effect on me, at the same time, it also reinforced my love and deep caring for animals. Plus it showed me how worlds on film, even in cartoon form, allow me to feel something.

My guest today, Lindsay Eberts, has lived her life in and around story, film, and the delicious emotions they evoke. It all started first with her father, Jake Eberts, a film producer with a storytelling gift who created pioneering films like Driving Miss Daisy, Dancing With Wolves, and Gandhi, and later with her own work in helping emerging filmmakers around the world.

If you’re curious about:

What makes a story stick? What’s one way to challenge yourself in creating stories? How do you get past your fear and get back into the emotion you want to convey through your storytelling when you’re speaking in public?

Then you’ll want to tune into this episode as Lindsay and I take you behind the curtain as she shares her incredible perspective through stories about growing up with her dad, their Oscar date night a few months before he passed, and the last words she heard him say on his deathbed that all illustrate the importance of living a life surrounded by emotion.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why everything can be made into a story
• How one or two words can tell a story
• How to focus on serving your audience with your storytelling

Who is Lindsay?

Lindsay Eberts is a British-Canadian film producer and emerging filmmaker consultant based in Québec, Canada. Using the example of her father Jake Eberts' extraordinary career and wonderful character as a central guiding principle, she helps emerging filmmakers develop their first projects for maximum impact for their long-term career goals. Thanks to her time attending and working for the Sundance Film Festival, she is obsessed with short films and what they can do for filmmakers, especially if they get the right support.

She is currently serving as Executive Producer on the feature-length documentary, For Love, which is a celebration of Indigenous culture and people that draws the connection between residential school trauma and the overrepresentation of Indigenous kids in foster care, and a promise to do better.

Links and Resources:

• Lindsay Eberts on LinkedIn
• @starlingfilmhouse on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting with my husband at a huge speaking event. He’s “The Closer”, and it’s already been a long day with lots of speakers on the stage. As we’re waiting for his turn to come, I turn to look at him and see he’s starting to fall asleep!

Uh oh! I grab him and take him outside of the theater because we’ve got to get his energy back up somehow. I say to him, “How about you put in your earbuds, play your power song, and take a brisk walk around the block?”

So off he goes, and I anxiously wait for him in the lobby. The minutes pass like hours. But when he walks back in, it’s like he’s a different person!

Just that one song recharged him and got him amped up to deliver his speech. He jumped up on that stage and owned it!

My belief is that he lit that stage on fire (figuratively speaking, of course) because he simply changed the story of what was going on with him - through music. Music has such a powerful effect on our bodies. And few people know that better than my guest today.

David Dabbon is a songwriter, arranger, and composer who’s worked on Broadway and received an Emmy nomination for his music composition in “Eat Shit, Bob!” (which you’ve probably heard on John Oliver’s HBO late-night show). Story through music is a huge part of his business and his life.

Why is story so much more than just the written word? How can musical choices change not just the feel but also the perspective of a scene? What are the layers that give music the power to energize and affect people so deeply? In this episode, David and I discuss the nuances of storytelling through musical choices, particularly its power to change (or manipulate) the feelings and perspectives of an audience.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why form is a big part of storytelling in all of its guises
• How music can support your emotional connection to stories
• Why we create different characters in storytelling

Who is David?

Based in New York, David Dabbon is an Emmy-nominated composer and arranger whose work has been featured on television and on the stage. He earned a bachelor of music degree from The Hartt School and his master of music degree in choral conducting from Carnegie Mellon University. He’s also a Usual Suspect at New York Theater Workshop and a member of the Television Academy, ASCAP, and The Society of Composers and Lyricists.

David earned his Emmy award nomination for composing music in the song “Eat Shit, Bob!” for HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He worked as the dance arranger for the Tony-nominated Broadway musical adaptation of Beetlejuice and the musical comedy Disaster! He also provided additional orchestrations for the Grammy-nominated Sondheim on Sondheim and orchestrations and arrangements for the HBO documentary Six by Sondheim. Other composer works include the interactive game show musical Game On, the Golden Lotus workshop, the ballet commission Surface, the production Our New Town, films Dori the Donor and All God’s Creatures, and The Mysteries plays.

In his ongoing collaboration with six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, David regularly provides orchestrations for albums and concerts. You can hear his work on McDonald’s New York Philharmonic: Sing Happy and Go Back Home. Also, at the 42nd Kennedy Center Honors, his orchestration of “Somewhere/Some Other Time” was performed. Currently, David is dance arranging and writing additional music for Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ production and creating additional arrangements for the Funny Girl revival.

Links and Resources:

• David Dabbon
• @daviddabbon on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s my first ever Improv class and because I’m so nervous, I don’t want to be there by myself. So I have my husband Mark sitting next to me after I’ve (ahem) tricked him into coming.

Our teacher Alan Irwin starts the intro, and I listen as he goes through the basic rules. But I’m thinking, “Hang on. Isn’t Improv comedy supposed to be made up on the spot? You’re not supposed to have rules in your head the whole time!”

All of this is just making me even more nervous. So I approach Alan after class and he says, “Kymberlee, these rules are there to give us a foundation. In Improv, we need a common language as we train. Then from there, we can play with it and bring our own style to the stage.”

A few classes later, after I get some training under my belt, I realize Alan’s right. With any new skill, you have to learn the fundamentals. Once you have those, you can make the skill your own.

That’s what we’re doing today in the first episode of a new series I call, “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller…” And we’re turning the tables a little bit, as I’m the one in the Hot Seat. I’ve invited my husband (no tricks this time) to take over interviewing duties.

In this episode, I look at a foundational question people ask me all the time: Where do I start if I want to become a storyteller?

To help me answer this, we cover why stories work, whether stories can be made up, what being “story curious” means, why people feel resistance when telling their stories, where you can tell stories, and how I always have a story ready to tell.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories help you build trust and rapport fast
• What it means to purposefully tell stories and be a story detective
• How to get better at storytelling and overcome the fear of telling your stories

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m taking an improv class in Los Angeles when the instructor turns to me and says, “Kymberlee, the last three characters you’ve done are all the same. You need to switch it up.”

What? There's no way they're the same! (I don’t say this to my instructor out loud, of course.)

She notices that my character choices of a fancy lady, a CEO, and an airplane pilot are all high-status characters with the same point of view, and I use the same voice for all three.

“So what do I do?” I ask. She tells me all I need to do is to simply change one thing. Making a choice to change one thing - doing a different voice, posture, or walk - will change everything about the characters I’m creating.

At that moment, I choose to change the way I talk. I put on a Southern cowboy accent instead (and then laugh at myself because of how horrible it is).

And it works! That one difference not only changed everything about my character, it has made me a better stage performer ever since. Plus this mantra works in business too:

Change one thing, you change everything.

My special guest today, Jenn Wong, knows how to change characters up and it’s no wonder why! She’s the ultimate multi-hyphenate: an actress, voice-over artist, “urban ninja”, writer, and much more.

Are you curious to know:

How do you use your voice to tell the story of different and distinct characters? What kind of uniqueness can you find in working on various projects? How do you put humanity into characters, no matter how crazy their circumstances, and avoid separating yourself from the story? How can you ensure that people find your characters interesting?

In this episode, Jenn and I chat about all that and tell stories of wine snobbery and nerd-dom in college, recognition through Call of Duty and Raya and the Last Dragon characters, and more. We’re getting into some good stuff today!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to turn characters on paper into three-dimensional characters
• Why representation in stories and characters matter
• What to avoid so that your characters appeal to more people

Who is Jenn?

Jenn Wong refuses to pigeonhole herself into any singular type of person. She writes, acts, and voices characters. She’s a first-generation American and Southern California girl who loves pickles, french fries, and industrial design. Her friends consider her an urban ninja who knows where to find everything--from unique gifts to the occasional pop-up restaurant, speakeasy, or cabaret--which led her to create her blog, Way of the Wong.

As a performer, Jenn’s best known for voicing several notable characters in Disney XD’s Yo-Kai Watch and Yo-Kai Watch: The Movie like Spoilerina, Toiletta, Mermaidyn, and the evil Gin. She’s also voiced video game characters such as The Great Fairy Mija in Hyrule: Warriors: Age of Calamity and Operator Isabella Rosario Dulnuan Reyes in Call of Duty: Vanguard.

Jenn's writing has appeared in travel, technology, and cocktail culture publications. She previously served as the Creative & Technical Director of Move LifeStyle, a lifestyle destination e-magazine for the modern working woman. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her partner Jason and their two dogs, Ninja and Junebug.

Links and Resources:

• Jenn Wong
• Way of the Wong
• Jenn Wong - IMDB
• @wayofthewong on Instagram
• @jenn.wong.awesome on Facebook
• @wayofthewong on Twitter
• @justjennwong on LinkedIn
• @wayofthewong on Youtube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s Saturday. I’m having a few laughs and some coffee with friends after kickboxing like we always do.

Grandmaster is with us on this particular Saturday and halfway through my matcha latte sip he looks over at me and says, “Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

I respond, “Ready for what?”

Grandmaster announces, “You're testing today.”

Wait. What??

Even though I’ve put in the extra time and training in preparation for this moment, I don't feel ready to go out on a mat and test in front of an audience anytime soon. Definitely not today… and most definitely not 20 minutes from now when the testing is set to begin!

I also can’t pass up this opportunity… so I decide to give this test everything I have.

Heart and mind racing, I rush home and put on my uniform (which I find still wet in the washing machine, by the way). Then I zip back to the dojo and have to park several blocks away. On top of all that, when I get out of the car I realize I don’t have any shoes on!

Not having time to do anything about it, I grab my bag of weapons, run down the street barefoot as fast as I can, and step onto the Martial Arts mat, wet uniform and all, with one minute left to spare.

That whole experience reinforced a critical lesson I think about to this day: We have the opportunity to trust our training, rise to any occasion and go all in. And my special guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast, Ivan Burev, has done this himself many times over. Ivan goes all in, in everything he does.

Have you ever wondered:

How can finding people you like (who also like you) benefit your business? What misconceptions you might be making right now about your audience? Why is fun critical to your success? If you have, this episode is for you.

Discover the answers to those questions and more as Ivan and I discuss the power in and purpose of being authentically you. You’ll learn how choosing to be yourself affects your energy, the people you attract, and your business; how a varied background adds to your story and life experience; and how a love of disco (and other joyful things) can tie into business success.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What people actually buy from businesses these days
• How to discover the right audience for you when starting a new business
• How to find the attention-grabbing hook to your stories

Who is Ivan?

Ivan Burev isn’t your typical social media guy. In his world, anyone can be an artist without the need for tools other than your brain and phone. His life motto, “When hard work meets fun, it becomes disco!” reflects his belief that hard work and fun can go together.

So Ivan created a place where you can find both. He uses his passion for helping small and medium-sized businesses attain their goals by developing successful digital strategies that increase brand awareness and generate leads. Find him on his website, Funky Business Media, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

Links and Resources:

• Funky Business Media
• @imivanburev on Instagram
• @imivanburev on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in the audience at a business conference when the speaker suddenly asks, “Who here is an artist? Raise your hand.” While a lot of hands go up, mine isn’t one of them.

My friend in the next seat elbows me in the side and says, “Raise your hand.”

I whisper to him, “I’m not an artist, I’m an athlete.” I’d never think to plaster that label on myself. Being an artist is reserved for painters and pop stars, not me.

He whispers back, “Hello! You’re a Black Belt, a Martial Artist. You ARE an artist.”

In that exact moment, a lightbulb goes off. He’s right. Martial Arts is an art form. Hello - it’s literally in the name! I also realize then and there that the labels I put on myself are subjective and not necessarily a complete picture of who I am to others and to the world.

My guest today is a military officer, an orthodontist and pageant queen who knows all about labels and turning them into your competitive advantage. In today’s show, Dr. Corinne Devin talks about the commonalities you can discover between very different careers, building confidence on the inside and the outside, and overcoming the stories others try to tell you about yourself.

How can you translate common skills between completely different jobs? How do you deal with limitations that others want to place on you? What do people get wrong about confidence? Discover the answers to those questions and more in this episode!

You’ll also hear about the career counselor giving questionable advice, how to harness the energy to prove wrong those who say you can’t be, do, or have what you want, and what to do when you’re multi-passionate and feel drawn to play very different roles in your life and career.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why admitting your struggles is actually a sign of confidence
• What you can do to gain instant confidence if you lack it
• How to reverse the limiting stories you tell about yourself

Who is Dr. Corinne Devin?

Dr. Corinne Devin is a multi-passionate woman who enjoys life as a U.S. military commander, orthodontist, motivational speaker, world traveler, and pageant queen. She balances her passions and uses them to make her better at every position she holds. The winner of International Ms. 2020, she also completed her orthodontics residency program at Wilford Hall Medical Center and served as a STEM keynote speaker to over 1,000 middle school girls in Japan and Italy for the Department of Defense.

As a female, Dr. Devin is already a rarity in the U.S. military where only 18% are women. But she also holds the rank of commander in the Navy, which only 0.29% of all females have achieved. She is a Daughter of the American Revolution and was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Al Asad. You can find out her latest updates here.

Links and Resources:

• @drcorinnedevin on Instagram
• @drcorinnedevin on Facebook
• Dr. Corinne Devin on Youtube
• Dr. Corinne Devin on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting in the audience after a special screening of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s incredible new musical drama, tick, tick… BOOM! about Jonathan Larson’s tragically short but dynamic life. It’s time for the Q&A session and the star of the movie, actor Andrew Garfield, takes the stage.

When he starts talking I quickly discover two things: First, that he’s British (who knew?!?) and second, that prior to shooting this movie, he was not a trained singer (yet his vocal range is incredible in this film).

As the Q&A goes on, I learn so much more about him and this film through his stories and perspective of the movie itself. It becomes a meta “story within a story” experience, with Garfield’s conversation showcasing Larson’s narrative on film. It’s a seemingly unplanned and unrehearsed example of a complex story popping up in an unexpected and delightful real-life situation.

My special guest this week, Jena Ellenwood, also uses storytelling in an equally surprising way. In this episode, she reveals the biggest misconception about her industry, why she moved from behind the bar to the virtual classroom, and how she utilized storytelling to win international cocktail competitions. We also discuss using stories as history lessons, seeing stories as reasons to care about what you do, and the value of being an educated consumer.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to use stories to educate others about your industry
• Why your family most likely has ties to the spirits world
• How stories can work so well in competitions

Who is Jena?

Located in Astoria, New York, Jena Ellenwood is recognized worldwide as an award-winning bartender, cocktail educator, and writer. For over a decade, she’s excelled at crafting unique cocktails for all occasions. Her cocktails have appeared in several publications and on menus at establishments such as Dear Irving in Manhattan & The Sparrow Tavern.

Jena grew up watching Julia Child and always wanted to have a cooking and cocktail show. Since the pandemic, she’s moved from teaching sold-out cocktail classes in person to hosting them virtually, including Cocktails with Jena on Youtube and Instagram. She now offers custom virtual classes through her website and runs the cocktail class programming for The Raines Law Room and Dear Irving.

Links and Resources:

• Jena Ellenwood
• Cocktails with Jena on Youtube
• @jena.lane on Instagram
• Last Call: The Shutdown of NYC Bars
• The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Are all the Christmas or Holiday or Birthday gifts you receive… surprises? So often we make lists of “wishes” and our family and friends grant those wishes, exactly. While this is incredibly generous and kind, it leaves out one of the best parts of opening a gift: the surprise.

One year, I decided to start a family tradition and change things around with what I call the WTF gift. All year long we look for an item a particular person would love to have, yet when you remove its original packaging and give the gift wrapped, the receiver would have no idea what it was. Thus begins the game. When you unwrap this unpackaged gift, you think to yourself, “What the @#&% is this?!” and try to guess what it actually is. There’s a timer and scoring too, so it doubles as a competition. Hilarity and stories ensue.

Our WTF gifts have become a family-favorite event every Christmas now, with everyone trying to outdo the prior year. {My hot matcha tea almost came out of my nose this year from laughing so hard.}

Imagine, though, taking this crazy concept and applying it to other areas of your life… My special guest this week on the Storytelling School Podcast is a satirist who knows all about turning things on their sides.

What comes first when creating satire? How do you get rewarded as a writer before you actually get paid? How do you take the mundane and find the funny in it? What’s the real reason behind why someone would take the time to express anger about you sharing your authentic stories?

In this episode, my marvelous guest Andrew Briedis takes us behind the curtain and discusses his process for coming up with satire. He also talks about the anonymous actor parody account he ran on Twitter and demonstrates how he heightened, changed, and re-heightened a satirical sketch he wrote for Leslie Jones on SNL.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What essential storytelling element you can learn from soap operas
• How to find your way into the story
• What it’s like to be in the SNL writers room

Who is Andrew?

Andrew Briedis is a writer and actor. He’s written for The Golden Globes and Saturday Night Live and developed a Netflix feature film. His book #SOBLESSED: the Annoying Actor Friend’s Guide to Werking in Show Business debuted as the #1 best-selling theatre and parody book on Amazon.

Andrew has also made appearances on the web series Turning the Tables and on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Currently, he does random stuff on TikTok in his spare time.

Links and Resources:

• @andrewbriedis on TikTok
• @andrewbriedis on Instagram
• @andrewbriedis on Twitter
• @actor_friend on Twitter
• #SOBLESSED: the Annoying Actor Friend’s Guide to Werking in Show Business by Annoying Actor Friend
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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How would you go about breaking a wooden board in half?

I’ve taught many mindset workshops for professionals and other non-martial artists, and one of my most popular live classes is where attendees have a chance to break thick pieces of wood with their bare hands.

Many people think breaking boards is about muscling their way through them. But actually, that’s not the case at all!

Every time I run this workshop, I reveal the real secret to board breaking in my lesson. Then, I ask for a volunteer who isn’t the biggest or strongest in the room to demonstrate it first so others can see how easy it can be.

When you do it right, board breaking can feel like butter. And it’s the same when you’re telling stories.

My guest today, Gerald Ishibashi, has made a career out of making stories come to life for tens of thousands of people in a single night, by applying the same board-breaking secret… to storytelling.

How can you expand your focus for maximum effect and benefit? How can you bring stories to life in huge venues? Why is an impending event so important to get things moving?

In my conversation with Gerald, you’ll discover the answers to these questions, hear about launching a new career path with only $100 in start-up business money and the role technology has played (and will continue to play) in changing businesses over decades, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How working backward takes the pressure off performing
• How to use an impending event to propel yourself forward
• Why storytelling is such a valuable commodity for the foreseeable future

Who is Gerald?

Gerald Ishibashi and entertainment became linked when, at 13 years old, he first performed professionally as the frontman and leader of Stonebridge Band. Forming ISHIBASHI/Stonebridge Productions in high school, he built it into one of the leading live entertainment production entities in the country. Over the years, he has led a colorful and award-winning career as an entertainer and musician, music store owner, concert promoter, emcee, producer, and motivational speaker.

During his career, Gerald has worked with hundreds of the biggest names in the music industry such as The Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, Jackson Browne, Pat Benatar, Michael McDonald, and the Righteous Brothers. He’s also the leader of a popular 11-piece rock band in Los Angeles and the creator of the Island Crooners.

Currently, he’s developing a musical play based on Harry Manaka’s book Chronicles of a Sansei Rocker and bringing his parenting and motivational speaking background to bear in co-writing a book with his three daughters. Also launching in 2022 is his star-studded podcast Meetings with Masters, focusing on life lessons from creative communicators and leaders in entertainment.

Links and Resources:

• @geraldishibashi on Instagram
• @geraldishibashi on Facebook
• @geraldishibashi on LinkedIn
• Chronicles of a Sansei Rocker by Harry Manaka
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting in a restaurant with a revolutionary idea scribbled on the back of a napkin. It’s the early 2000s and I’m still in the technology industry at this point, so we’re coming up with ideas for this crazy software application we want to create.

It’s never been done before and feels like it could change everything! We’re talking about a ColdFusion back end, a Flash front end, throwing data back and forth very quickly... it’d be the first time you could have a Rich Internet Application. {Fancy stuff back then.}

As we’re sitting there brainstorming my new friend Mark says, “Hang on, can we really do this? No one’s actually executed something like this.” Two seconds later, we find ourselves thinking, “Why not us? Why don’t we be the ones to do it?”

That software idea we brought to life launched a company that lasted for 16 years! And my special guest on the Storytelling School Podcast, Douglas Lyons, is all about bringing ideas that no one else has thought of to life in different forms.

What is the thought process behind birthing an idea that didn’t exist before? What is the only original thing about ideas? And what the hell do mosquito bites have to do with storytelling?

In this episode, I speak with Douglas about all of that, being successful without the usual “bells and whistles” of training, normalizing and giving representation to Black culture on Broadway, and more. You’ll hear his words of wisdom if you feel like your voice and perspective don’t matter. And you’ll discover how to know which stories to stick with and the power of figuring out your “why” for creating a story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What principles to keep in mind as you create a story
• Why naming your characters is so important
• How your stories can heal, affect change, and live on long after you’re gone

Who is Douglas?

Douglas Lyons is a director, actor, writer, playwright, and composer-lyricist. He’s one of the writers and composers of Apple TV’s 2022 Fraggle Rock series and made his playwriting debut with Chicken and Biscuits, which starred Michael Urie and Norm Lewis. His other writing credits include Polkadots at the Atlantic Theater Company, Beau at the Adirondack Theatre Festival, and Five Points with Hamilton’s Andy Blankenbuehler.

As an actor, Douglas was part of the original cast of the Broadway production The Book of Mormon and Beautiful. He also did tours of Rent and Dreamgirls. His music and lyrics have been featured on CBS’s Sunday Morning Show and BET Plus, as well as in Lincoln Center’s Broadway Songbook Series and Carnegie Hall’s Voices of Hope Festival. And along with his musical writing partner Ethan D. Pakchar, he was a finalist for the 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant.

Links and Resources: * @Chocolatehipster on Instagram * @DouglasSings on Twitter * Storytelling School Website * @storytellingschool on Instagram * @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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As I’m growing up, my Grandmother, Moo, tells me stories of her life growing up in New York. She talks about the museums, Central Park, and plays on Broadway.

She says to me, “Someday, you’ll be able to see your first play on Broadway, and you’ll never forget it.” Yet I’m sitting there thinking, “That’s nice, Moo, but I’m an athlete. Sports is my thing.”

Plus, I’m not really interested in theater... until after college when I find myself in New York watching a Broadway play for the first time.

And you know what? Moo was right! It was everything she said it was going to be and more. The lights. The stage. The music. All of it was an absolute delight.

You never forget your first play on Broadway. The story of that first play and every play I’ve seen since has stuck with me and has earned a permanent place in my memory bank.

My guest Ryan Bauer-Walsh knows a thing or two about stories on and off stage. As an actor, singer, and artist, he creates stories as part of his life’s work.

In this episode, we talk about a love for bringing stories to life through various artistic mediums, using times of chaos to experience greater growth and creativity, tastefully telling someone else’s story through art, and how comforting memories of a mom led to the first lullaby album for the LGBTQ+ community.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the art of storytelling can be an escape in many ways
• How to create a story through art from a blank canvas
• What a story must already have in order to be great

Who is Ryan?

Born in Minnesota, Ryan Bauer-Walsh is a writer, actor, composer, colorblind artist, and community activist based in New York. As an artist, he started with murals at age 12 and works in watercolor and acrylic. His pieces can be found in private collections across the country and have been featured in Neon Days, American Morning, The New York Times, The Coterie Opera, and the New York City Opera. In addition to large-scale art, he’s the illustrator of several books.

Ryan has also performed on stage and screen in shows like Les Misérables, Billy Elliot, Miss Saigon, and The Deuce on HBO. He sang the U.S. national anthem at the Chicago White Sox’s ballpark and in front of 50,000 people at the internationally-televised Chicago Marathon. Currently, he’s producing the world’s first LGBTQ+ lullaby album and a gender-neutral clothing line.

Links and Resources:

• Ryan Bauer-Walsh
• @ryan.bauer.walsh on Instagram
• @rbwart on Instagram
• Ryan’s clothing line: tinpin
• The Rainbow Lullaby
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s time to throw the confetti! We’ve reached a milestone today! This episode marks our 50th show of Storytelling School and in honor of it, I’m doing something special for you.

People often ask me, “Kymberlee, how do you extract lessons from your stories?” It’s a crucial part of storytelling, so I’ve got you covered.

In today’s show, you’ll hear about seven different stories that each have their own lesson and can be put to use immediately. Every one of these tactical changes can transform your storytelling and YOU!

What do you do when something unexpected happens? What lies in store for you and your audience when you do something surprising? What can you do to stick in people’s minds and affect change in their lives? Who should you compare yourself to? When’s the right time for you to take calculated risks?

Listen in as I cover the above questions and more with stories of blindfolds, martial arts tests, rat traps, Hello Kitties, and then some!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to incorporate the unexpected into your work
• How to make your own opportunities
• How to make an audience remember you forever

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 300 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My team’s about to hit the stage for our first improv show as a troupe. We’re backstage and talking amongst ourselves about everything we’re going to do to make this performance incredible.

My teammates Mike, Mark, and I each recite an improv rule that we plan to focus on during the show. Once we are finished declaring our steadfast following of a particular rule, we look over at our fellow troupe member Chris who hasn’t weighed in yet. He announces, “Let’s just have fun.”

At that moment, I realize, “Oh, of course!” Here we are putting all these rules in place and concentrating on things we need to do... or not do. And then Chris gives us the permission in that moment to let all of that go and just play.

Yes, and...

Chris Shurland has a knack for always following the fun, and I’ve invited him onto the show today to remind us all how we can do the same.

In this episode, he and I talk about what improv really is and how it helps you as a storyteller (or, surprise, a salesperson). We also discuss being you and being real in your storytelling or performance, getting over nerves and stage fright, and the importance of keeping your audience interested throughout the story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What it means to take on a character that is you but not you
• How to “heighten” your storytelling, even when the story is true
• Why embracing imperfection makes you a more engaging storyteller

Who is Chris?

Currently based in Santa Barbara, Chris Shurland is a Chicago-trained improv teacher and performer and the founder of Irreverent Improv. After completing his training at various institutions, he performed on several teams in Chicago and California. Some of those groups went on tour to perform in festivals and at theaters.

Nowadays, Chris serves as the Associate Artistic Director for American Improv Theatre in San Jose. He directs shows, coaches teams, teaches classes, and acts as a producer of the San Jose Improv Festival. When not teaching workshops, he performs on house teams in the Bay Area and Southern California and tours with improv groups in San Jose, Santa Barbara, or Chicago.

Links and Resources:

• Irreverent Improv
• Carpinteria Improv at the Alcazar
• @americanimprovtheatre on Facebook
• Santa Barbara Improv
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m in a movie theater watching the opening to Pixar’s Up. All of a sudden, I can feel the tears welling in my eyes.

I try to keep it together because I’m in a public place and can’t start crying now! And this is an animated movie, so why am I even about to start bawling my eyes out?!

But then I realize, “Hang on. This isn’t just an animated film. It’s great storytelling!” I’m actually feeling the emotions the characters are going through.

Pixar films know how to raise the emotional stakes with their beautiful, powerful, and (at times) heartbreaking messages. And today, I’m excited to have as my special guest the guy who literally wrote the book on great Pixar movie storytelling, Dean Movshovitz.

In this episode, we discuss elements of meaningful storytelling with lots of examples from Pixar’s popular films. You’ll discover the three different genres within every Pixar film, hear how to bring a kernel of a story to life, connect with characters through the vulnerable and idealized side of your personality, and emphasize the effect of your story on the world (whether it’s real or fictional).

What you will learn in this episode:

• What two elements you must include in your story
• How to bring out the uniqueness within your story
• How to write a great ending for your lead character

Who is Dean?

Born in Israel, Dean Movshovitz is a speaker, screenwriter, and author of the #1 Amazon bestseller, Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films. At age 14, a film class introduced him to The Manchurian Candidate and The Graduate. He’s been hooked on film ever since and finds the way movies and TV create stories and how viewers experience those stories to be endlessly fascinating.

Dean served in the IDF for five years, then earned his Screenwriting Bachelor’s degree at Tel Aviv University. He also graduated from Serial Eyes, Europe’s premier post-graduate training program for TV writers and producers. His work includes TV projects for Cineteve, UFA, and Blackpills. He currently lives in Los Angeles and also works as a freelance script consultant.

Links and Resources:

• Dean Movshovitz
• Pixar Storytelling by Dean Movshovitz
• @mdean317 on Twitter
• @Deanm317 on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Years ago, I’m running my software company and gaining some big advertising agencies as clients.

I think, “All right, I need to learn this industry.” And hey, what better place to start than watching Mad Men? I’m hearing so much about it, so surely it should teach me how the industry works, right?

I start watching the show to understand the mindset of an advertising professional. And what do I learn?

Yes, some of those themes on the show are actually spot-on, but being an award-winning creative in the advertising world doesn’t come easy.

I have a ton of respect for those who can come up with such original and memorable content including my special guest today, Arthur Vibert, who not only has won numerous awards, he also knows how to tell a good story!

Why do you bond with the businesses you love? What mistakes can you make when you start incorporating stories into your business advertising? How do the stories you hear and tell yourself and others as you age influence how you continue to live life in your twilight years? Arthur and I get into that and so much more on today’s show!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How storytelling influences advertising success
• How to develop a “natural” storytelling ability
• How ageism plays into storytelling

Who is Arthur?

Throughout his rich and varied career, Arthur Vibert has had the pleasure of working in the advertising industry in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and London. He co-created the Max Headroom campaign for Coca-Cola, the Saturn “Launch” campaign for the Saturn car’s introduction, and has worked with BMW, Levi’s, and many more. In addition, his work in video production includes collaborations with the likes of Mozilla and Apple.

Currently working as a commercial director and video producer, Arthur more recently has added writing and coaching (and soon, podcasting) to his repertoire. And for the past few years, he has helped creative people aged 40 and up deal with the realities of aging in a culture ill-equipped to understand what to do with them. You can find and follow him on his website and on LinkedIn.

Links and Resources:

• Arthur Vibert
• @arthurvibert on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“You have to see this.” That’s the message I see alongside a link sent to me by a friend. “Umm… I’m kind of busy, you know? I’m in the middle of things, working and I don’t have time for links.” I fire back. He insists, “No, you really need to see this.”

So I open up the link and see... an inkblot. An inkblot?!? Big deal! Then he tells me to play the video, and I do. I find myself completely enthralled as this inkblot suddenly becomes a creature that turns into an adorable monster. Oh, and the artist creating it is drawing it upside-down and backward!

From white pages to inkblots to monsters, this art comes to life before my eyes. And each monster clearly has its own story behind it. I have to know who the artist is. I want to talk to him and find out everything I can because anyone with the talent to turn inkblots into monsters has won me over.

How do you organically create something from nothing like that? Find out in this episode as I sit down with that incredible artist, Stefan G. Bucher. We discuss why starting your story in the middle helps you overcome resistance and why doing things for yourself without an audience might be the better way for you to go.

You’ll also hear about the role of storytelling in highlighting the common experience, how you can do things to feel less alone in the world, and Stefan’s incredibly amusing technique to help you uplevel your storytelling game.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why your task is to find something, not create something
• Why connection is such an essential part of great storytelling
• How different mediums can unlock new ways to approach storytelling

Who is Stefan?

Stefan G. Bucher is a writer, graphic designer, illustrator, and all-around bookaholic. Born in Germany, he came to California and studied at the Art Center College of Design. His first introduction to book design happened as a child when he poured over the catalogs of the Wilhelm Busch Museum in Hannover. That early access began a lifelong journey to design and produce books in the same delightful and fascinating fashion that those early catalogs did for him.

Stefan has received rewards, features, and recognition from design books and magazines and prestigious institutions in the literary world. He won the Yellow Pencil Award for Book Design from British Design and the Art Direction and the Art Directors Club of New York. Numerous book design exhibitions have featured his work such as those hosted by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

Stefan’s most popular work, however, is the online animation series Daily Monster where he filmed himself drawing a new monster from random inkblots for 100 days. This series has enjoyed millions of views and downloads and inclusion in the Communication Arts Illustration and American Illustration annuals, and even new life in book form. In addition, he has worked with a wide range of entertainment, advertising, educational, and institutional clients and collaborated on projects with big names like Sting, director Tarsem, and The New York Times.

Links and Resources: * 344 Books * @344books on LinkedIn * @stefangbucher on YouTube * 100 Days of Monster by Stefan G. Bucher * Stefan's Skillshare Class * Storytelling School Website * @storytellingschool on Instagram * @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sitting in the audience in Tampa, Florida as a play has just ended.

As a civilian not being part of the military, I am speechless reflecting on what I’ve just seen.

Although my Grandpa Joe and Uncle Jack were in the U.S. military many years ago, they never talked about their experiences being enlisted during wartime. They have never shared their stories with me.

And this play has revealed the collateral costs of war... costs I never knew existed.

From the emotional damage to the physical damage to the permanent pain, this play has evoked every emotion possible in me.

In that moment, still sitting in my seat, I know both civilians and military members, the country over, need to see what I’ve just seen on stage - but how?

Find out what happened next and what the true costs of not telling your story are, on this week’s Storytelling School Podcast.

My special guest this week and dear friend Retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann is the creator of and lead actor in the play I witnessed, Last Out.

We talk about how he went from being a Green Beret to writing a play (it’s not what you think) and so many other areas, exploring questions such as:

How do you teach hard-learned lessons from a never-ending war to American civilians oblivious to it all? How did Operation Pineapple (a remote mission during the recent collapse in Afghanistan) produce high-stakes storytelling that changed an outcome in real-time? And how can you influence others who are reluctant to take action?

Tune into this interview as we discuss these topics and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How war stories can help us heal
• What people get wrong about storytelling
• Why storytelling is a much-needed “soft skill”

Who is Scott?

Retired Lt. Col Scott Mann is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and leadership coach. During his military service, 18 years of which he spent as a U.S. Green Beret, he specialized in unconventional, high-impact missions. He restored trust, created human connections, and solved problems that helped people worldwide stand up for themselves, even in places like Afghanistan and Iraq where it seemed impossible.

Thanks to his military experience, Scott’s taken his mastery of relationship-building to high-stakes, competitive environments like corporate boardrooms and conference rooms where trusted leadership is more valuable (and vulnerable) than ever. There, he helps organizations gain a better understanding of their internal culture and exposes areas of potential conflict where trust has deteriorated.

Nowadays, you can often find the retired Lt. Col making appearances on various news and syndicated radio channels such as CNN, Fox Business News, National Public Radio, and Wall Street Journal Radio. He’s also written op-eds that have appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Washington Post, and Small Wars Journal.

Links and Resources:

• Rooftop Leadership
• The Heroes Journey
• Last Out: A Voice Never Heard
• @rooftop_leadership on Instagram
• @RooftopLeader on Twitter
• @RooftopLeadership on Facebook
• Rooftop Leadership on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m backstage at a TEDx event when our Stage Manager Phil asks me, “Where’s Sam?”

I’m thinking, “Oh no. Where is Sam? I haven’t seen him lately… and he’s our next speaker!”

I open the stage door to the outside and I see him standing there with a concerned look on his face.

Seeing nervous speakers comes with the territory, yet the look on Sam’s face is different.

Sam tells me he’s just received notification that a group of people in Syria has gathered together to watch his TEDx Talk live streamed. And they want him to highlight exactly what is happening in their country at this very moment: they are under threat of being bombed at any time. Plus the fact that they have gathered in a group makes them a higher probability target and even more vulnerable.

I ask Sam if he wants to give this Talk at all now, given the added pressure and responsibility. We’ve been working on it for months, and at this point he knows every word, every line, every pause in it. Everything is ready to go, and at the same time the stakes cannot be higher...

What happens next?

Join us this week on the Storytelling School Podcast and we’ll share exactly that and so much more. Sam Kadi is my special guest this week. In addition to reflecting on this harrowing and unexpected story, he and I cover a lot of ground in our exciting interview. We talk about taking risks through storytelling, telling stories in service to your audience instead of yourself, making stories and characters more interesting, and the art of short-form storytelling.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why interesting characterization is the most important storytelling element
• How to make yourself (or someone else) more interesting in non-fictional stories
• How to approach the art of short-form storytelling

Who is Sam?

Based in Santa Barbara, Sam Kadi is a writer, director, producer, TEDx speaker, founder of Sam K Production, and a member of the Directors Guild of America where he serves on the Guild Asian American committee. His award-winning, critically acclaimed feature drama The Citizen starring Cary Elwes received numerous awards on the international festival circuit before its theatrical release. His recent documentary Little Gandhi was an official selection for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2017 Academy Awards. He was even invited to screen it and speak before members of the Canadian Parliament, U.S. Congress, United Nations, and Amnesty International.

Sam has received recognition for raising awareness of human rights issues through his work as well, from the Cinema for Peace organization and the Life for Relief and Development Organization which presented him with a Humanitarian Service Award in 2014. In addition, Steven Spielberg’s SHOAH Foundation chose him as a Spotlight Juror, and he’s a jury member for multiple film festivals such as the European Independent Film Festival in Paris.

Links and Resources:

• Sam Kadi
• Unmuting millions of voices one story at a time | Sam Kadi TEDx speech
• @skadi74 on Instagram
• @samkpro on Twitter
• Sam on Facebook
• Sam on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m a sophomore at the University of Hawaii attending normal classes by day and the American College of Sports Medicine certification classes by night. In one of the night classes, I meet this guy named Dave.

He tells me he owns a dojo in town and invites me to try a workout.

I explain that hey, I’m a Softball Pitcher and have been since I was a little girl. I have no interest in those Martial Arts. Plus, I’ve earned a full-ride scholarship based on my softball prowess, so softball’s my thing.

Yet, every time I see him, Dave keeps inviting me and continues to insist I take a class at his dojo. He’s relentless. Week after week, month after month - the invites turn to challenges and the challenges turn to dares.

One night I have had enough and I make him a deal: I will take his class just once. In return, he will not bug me about it ever again.

I took his class in 1991 and Martial Arts has been a mainstay in my life ever since.

30 years later, I am returning the favor and I’ve invited… er… challenged/dared Dave Wheaton, now aka the Grandmaster, to come on the Storytelling School Podcast, and here he is!

In our episode, we explore storytelling through the perspective of teaching and training. He and I talk about best practices for approaching your chosen profession, developing storytelling skills even when it doesn’t come naturally, and life lessons you can learn from Martial Arts. Plus we look at humor in stories and how important stories are to our legacy.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why it’s essential to study the greats in your field
• How to gain mastery at whatever you do
• How martial arts apply to life and storytelling

Who is Dave?

Dave Wheaton is an instructor, mentor, coach, and Martial Arts Grandmaster who’s taught and trained thousands of students nationwide for over 50 years. His credentials include a 9th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, an 8th Dan in Taekwondo, and a Golden Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Karate Union Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Dave is the founder and president of Hapkido International. He developed a self-defense system based on Hapkido that combines several Martial Arts techniques with an emphasis on flowing seamlessly between movements. With it, the student can respond intuitively with the necessary amount of force, regardless of size or age.

Now, Grandmaster Dave teaches private hapkido and kickboxing lessons both in person and via Zoom for students all over the world. His other interests include garage winemaking, Paleo cooking, and serving as an FAA Certified Gold Seal Flight instructor. For more in-depth information on his story and martial arts lineage, visit https://santabarbaradojo.com/grandmaster.

Links and Resources:

• Grandmaster Dave Wheaton
• @Grandmaster on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I couldn’t contain my curiosity. One day, while at my CrossFit gym, I hear word going around that someone’s providing complimentary photos of the athletes. Even though I don’t really need a photo, I check out the photographer’s work.

When I come across the first photo, this haunted feeling washes over me as I see an image of a man with piercing eyes, unsmiling, not posed, just standing there against a black backdrop. It’s like he’s exposed his soul for all to see.

And I know there are years of complex stories... in this one single image.

Six-ish years later, I still remember that photograph.

Not only did I have my photo taken that day, I’ve been working with the extraordinary photographer, David Kafer, ever since.

Now, I’ve invited David to join me on the Storytelling School Podcast as my special guest this week. In our engrossing episode, we talk about perspectives on how to bring stories to life without words. We discuss how photos can tell a story in a single image, the missing stories in photographs posted on social media, and how non-photographers can approach personal storytelling through imagery.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What behind-the-scenes factor often leads to great photos
• How to add layers and depth of meaning to your photographs
• Why you want to attach a story and a purpose to your brand

Who is David?

Born in rural Gloversville, NY, David Kafer moved to the city of Buffalo before he was in high school. He attended the same high school as his mother and continued his education at Canisius College, earning a Bachelor’s degree. Here, he also developed a love of storytelling and narrating life through digital mediums of art, particularly photography.

David moved to Santa Barbara in 2010 for his Master’s in Fine Art from the Brooks Institute. While there, he found a deep appreciation for and understanding of visual work with depth beyond the technical details. But he’s always wanted to help draw attention to those voices we usually don’t hear. So with his professional growth and unforgettable personal experiences in Buffalo, he started turning his eyes toward using his skills for positive change in communities across the country.

That’s when Portrait Project was born. Through it, David photographed anyone in Buffalo who wanted to share a story. The accelerating social divide in American communities eventually led him to evolve this concept into the non-profit Storied Portraits. Currently, the organization works to reshape community perspectives in order to help address the country’s prejudices.

Links and Resources:

• David Kafer
• Storied Portraits
• @storiedportraitsorg on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s my first improv performance. I’m so nervous, I don’t invite anyone to my show - no family members, no colleagues, no friends. Make that… no friends except... for my dear friend Steve from Baltimore. I know he’ll have my back and love this performance.

I peer from behind the curtain, just as the emcee is announcing our names. I see Steve from Baltimore in the front row, three seats from center. Phew.

The show begins and after doing the first bit with my scene partner, I notice Steve isn’t smiling. After my second time on stage, he isn’t even laughing. As the show goes on, he's given me no reaction whatsoever - not even a head nod.

I realize I must be so bad at this that I start apologizing to my fellow cast members backstage right then and there and tell them my improv career is over.

After the show I tell Steve that I’m so sorry to have wasted his time and that I was so terrible. “What?” he asks. “You were terrific and so funny. You should definitely do this more.”

At that moment, I realized what happened - Steve from Baltimore has a background as a criminal defense attorney in Maryland. He was simply watching the show with his “courtroom stern expression” on. Thanks Steve.

Lesson learned? As storytellers and speakers, we can't control our audience’s face.

This week, I’ve invited the infamous Steve from Baltimore onto the podcast as my special guest. We explore storytelling from the lens of influence and intention, in the courtroom and beyond. You’ll hear his (extra politically incorrect) story of the pineapple head trial and so much more. We’ll cover how he used storytelling in criminal courtroom cases and why story matters when you want to encourage a particular outcome.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the “guilty” or “not guilty” verdicts are actually misnomers
• Why it’s harder to create stories in criminal trials
• What essential element makes for a great story with a jury (or any audience)

Who is Steve from Baltimore?

Stephen L. Miles was born in 1943 and educated in Baltimore’s public schools. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and got his law degree from the same institution in 1969. For his first job, he spent three years prosecuting the highest level criminal cases in the felony unit. His first trial involved a murder case within just the first two days of him being on the job. From there, he was off and running.

Stephen’s next case came when the biggest criminal lawyer in Maryland hired him. He’d go on to spend several years working there. But eventually, he decided that the stress of working on criminal cases was too much and decided to pursue a new career within his career. In 1975, when it became legal to do so in Maryland, he was the first lawyer to advertise on state TV.

By the time 1999 rolled around, Stephen had had enough and decided to sell his practice. At that point, he’d acquired over 60 employees in 8 locations. He stayed at home to raise his two adopted Vietnamese daughters until he decided to try working in legal again in 2010. However, with the onset of the COVID pandemic, he retired from it a second time.

Links and Resources:

• stevemiles1@mac.com
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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As an athlete, from the time I was a little girl until now, I’ve had to work on my mindset. Regardless of your age or profession, your mindset matters. But as a speaker or storyteller, you need to have control over it too.

In this special solo episode, I talk about one of my favorite topics of all time and unpack different looks at mindset. You’ll hear about how to deal with both your content and performance regarding commitment, focus, managing your fear, creating rituals and using the concept of grit in your ritualization, taking risks, and displaying confidence no matter how you feel.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to deal with fear
• Why there are gifts in your grit
• How to focus on one core idea
  (not 3 or 30)

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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It’s the big day and I’m meeting with my web strategist to present my “works of art”, content-wise. We’re about to relaunch my website and I’ve worked my butt off on the deliverables for him. I know he’s going to have all kinds of praise for me and I can’t wait to hear what he says. He begins our meeting by telling me that my content needs a complete overhaul. Wait. what?!? I’ve worked countless hours on this!! He explains that my content is all about me... when instead it needs to be about my audience. Woah.

That re-frame has forever changed the point of view of the story my website shares.

Today, I’ve invited my web strategist Chris Foley onto the show to share his wisdom. What does it really mean to have a presence online? What does a sales process look like, and what misconceptions do people have about introducing (or re-introducing) their brands? In this episode, we dive into the story of our online presence and discuss why so many people have such sucky websites, the purpose of your website and establishing an effective web presence, why you might be failing at accurately describing what you do on your site, and so much more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What immediate concerns you must address on your site right away
• What story your sales process on your website needs to tell
• How to avoid the two biggest blind spots when launching your site

Who is Christopher?

At 25 years old, Christopher Foley decided to pack everything and move to southern California. Seeking fame and fortune, he found a ton of life experience instead. Life took him from the entertainment industries and financial ups and downs to marriage, making France his home for a while, and traveling (enjoying strange foods and foreign language exploration in the meantime) before he grew homesick and returned to Santa Barbara.

Christopher considers himself a compulsive creative at heart. Born in the Boston area, his storytelling craft started early, developed over five decades, and has shined through several disciplines. He’s done musical theater, film photography, and even a bit of tap dancing before earning his degree in video production and radio telecommunications. He’s even had stints as a touring guitar player and music producer.

When the digital revolution came calling, Christopher answered and spent the next 15 years building over 300 websites and helping people tell their stories online. In his view, he serves several roles for his clients: psychologist, ruthless cheerleader, trusted confidant, and oppressive editor among them. So despite the title of web strategist, his work transcends beyond established labels.

Links and Resources:

• PXLPOD
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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You know when you’re watching the opening of a movie and you’re in a world being introduced to the characters, then all of a sudden something happens? This event changes everything from that moment on. In storytelling, that moment is called the inciting incident and it sets the story in motion.

My incredible guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast, José Rolón, experienced an inciting incident of colossal proportion... in real life.

And it was that same life-changing incident that taught him one of the most important lessons José has ever learned in his life. In our gripping interview, we talk about what can happen on the other side of tragedy and how story plays a vital role every step of the way. José and I explore how he learned to tell his story in small bites, how to balance devastation with lightheartedness, and how to connect and be relatable to all audiences.

The inciting incident drastically changes the trajectory of the character’s journey. For José, this happened like the flip of a switch. Listen in on our episode to find out how a major event can not only change your life, but the lives of your audience through telling your story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to be relatable to your audience
• Why telling a vulnerable story has power
• How to balance tragedy with lightheartedness

Who is José?

José Rolón is the owner/founder of José Rolón Events, planning and designing upscale weddings throughout New York City. José Rolón Events has been featured in many major publications: New York Weddings, BRIDES, New York Times, The Knot, and Essence to name a few.

If that wasn’t enough, in addition to being an entrepreneur, José continues to be a voice and advocate for gay dads through various media outlets. As a single gay father of three, José has received attention by NBC News, TODAY Show, Ellen's Game of Games, PEOPLE, Gays with Kids, and recently graced the cover of Parents Latina magazine being their first gay dad to do so.

Finally, José has spent this past summer speaking across the country to show folks how to turn Tragedy Into Your Superpower.

Links and Resources: * José Rolón @nycgaydad on Tik Tok * NYC Gay Dad Website * José Rolón @nycgaydad on Instagram * José Rolón Events Website

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I’m flipping the TV channels when I see something that makes me have a flashback to my childhood. I remember standing next to my best friend Jeff Babko in the backyard near a kiddie pool. We loved putting on skits and performing at his house as kids. Then, we got older and lost touch as I got into softball and moved to Hawaii for college while he studied music in Miami. So imagine my surprise when I stopped on Jimmy Kimmel’s show one day and saw a very familiar face. It was Jeff!

I had to invite him on the show for a walk down memory lane. And he’s got plenty of stories to share about his musical career and travels, working with other musicians, and especially collaborating with comedians like Steve Martin and Martin Short. We talk all about it, as well as performance (whether it’s music, improv, or storytelling) and key elements necessary for making a connection with your audience.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What role music plays in comedy and storytelling
• Why your audience matters in every performance
• How you can best experience your own storytelling

Who is Jeff?

Born and raised in southern California, Jeff Babko has lived on the West Coast for his entire career of television, film, and live performances. After graduating from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, he began touring internationally with Julio Iglesias, then joined the group, Toto, to tour Europe. He’s also recorded and toured with musical stars like Smokey Robinson, Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Ocean, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, and John Mayer, among many others.

On the TV side of things, Jeff’s most significant work has to be the past 18 years as the musical arranger, co-composer, and house band member of Jimmy Kimmel Live. But he’s always kept his toes dipped in comedy too. His TV work actually began on Martin Short’s syndicated talk show at the turn of the century. In fact, he still regularly performs with Short and Steve Martin. Jeff has also been on the Emmy award-winning Wayne Brady daytime show and even worked as an Emmy show composer, arranger, and orchestra member for three years.

People have enjoyed his performances at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the White House for the Obamas and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. His work is even featured on the musical scores of several movies like Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, and Pixar’s Luca. But today, Jeff and his wife, violinist Songa Lee, produce music from their studio in the San Fernando Valley and regularly perform as a duo in Paso Robles, CA

Links and Resources:

• Jeff Babko
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m backstage at a TEDx event one day, and everyone’s nervously preparing themselves. I’m getting ready to announce a 16-year-old speaking for the first time when I see her do something that makes my jaw drop. She’s taking off her shoes, about to go on stage barefoot.

Now anyone, much less a teenager, would be nervous in a situation like that, but Chloe Howard was no ordinary teenager. Her going on stage barefoot was such a big deal because she was born with a foot deformity and got bullied as a result. She nor I needed to worry about her speech, though. She ended up delivering the talk of a lifetime, and I’m so honored to have her as my guest today!

In this episode, Chloe talks about living with her deformity and using her story to promote healing within herself and others. Listen as she describes why she made the choice to walk on that stage barefoot, what internal stories need changing, and the impact of taking on empowering labels like resilience.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories have the power to heal yourself and others
• Why storytelling is inherent to all people
• How the labels you choose to give yourself shape your story

Who is Chloe?

Chloe Howard is an author and speaker. Born with a severe foot deformity, she has endured bullying, several operations, and other daunting challenges but has met them all with grace and determination. The turning point in her life came when she met and spoke with Bono (yes, of U2 fame) who offered her powerful words about fighting against injustice.

Since then, Chloe has lifted herself and others from past shame and guilt with her TEDx talks and books where she reveals the truth we all need to hear: only you determine your labels, not society. After she suffered a hate crime, she ditched the “victim” label ascribed to her and replaced it with resilience. Now she challenges people worldwide to “stand beautiful” and embrace that we all were made for more.

Links and Resources:

• Stand Beautiful
• Stand Beautiful books by Chloe Howard
• @itschloehoward on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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In life, sometimes you meet truly captivating people who you feel can and will have a profound impact on the world. This happened the first time I met Dr. Harry Grammer. In fact, I think he’s already started making his mark on the world through his advocacy for incarcerated youth and community through the form of storytelling.

In our riveting discussion, we explore: why Dr. Grammer decided to live homeless on the beach for a while, what finally sparked an emotional connection to his father for the first time in his life and why he felt compelled to start New Earth. Find out and listen in as Dr. Grammer discusses how he encourages incarcerated kids to share their stories with each other and the world, instigating a changing of our perspectives of them and their lives in the process.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What you don’t understand about youth incarceration
• How incarceration is about business, not just crime
• What structure you can fit into almost every story

Who is Dr. Grammer?

Dr. Harry Grammer is the founder and president of New Earth, an organization formed in 2004 to reform the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles County, CA. He has a Ph.D. in Community, Liberation, and Eco-Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. He also holds the position of Board Chair of its Alumni Association.

His multi-faceted company brings higher levels of support to incarcerated young people, youth experiencing housing insecurity, and kids aging out of the foster care system. Programs run the gamut from poetry, music, advocacy, wilderness retreats, and more to employment readiness and job placement. Since its inception, New Earth has served over 25,000 youth in the last 17 years in detention centers, group homes, probation camps, its own facility, and even a joint charter high school on-site.

In 2017, Dr. Grammer had the distinction of being honored as a CNN Hero. The following year, he followed that up as one of the first inaugural Obama Foundation Fellows chosen among more than 20,000 applicants in over 191 countries. Through his experience, leadership, and teaching and advocacy background, he continues to work as an educator and activist nationwide.

Links and Resources:

• New Earth
• @HarryGrammer on Twitter
• @grammerharry on Instagram
• @OfficialHarryGrammer on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Do you have favorite TV jingles heard during your childhood still stuck in your head decades later? For me the unshakable melody originated as my BFF Jeff and I proudly performed the Sparkletts Water “song” in front of a riveted crowd… aka our parents. If you’ve ever wondered about the type of person who could come up with those quick, catchy tunes, I’ve got you covered. Wendy Miller knows a thing or two about TV and jingles and even parodies because she’s written hundreds of them. An Emmy-winning producer of over 200 television episodes, she hosts Sex Ed The Musical, was the former programming head for Playboy TV, and is my very special guest on the Storytelling School Podcast today.

In our action packed conversation, we explore why companies use jingles in their marketing and we dig into Wendy’s personal process for creating jingles and episodes. During our interview, Wendy shares her writing process, we discuss using comedy in storytelling, and she brings us behind the curtain in her working with Wayne Brady (one of my all time favorite performers). Wendy also talks about her producing career (including a very short-lived stint on Oprah’s show) just before we segue into a little risqué territory about her time at Playboy TV and an encounter of the (almost) close kind with adult film star Nina Hartley.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to deal with the inner jerk in your headspace
• How to incorporate comedy into your stories
• What ingredient you need to make an outstanding story

Who is Wendy?

Wendy Miller is an author, speaker, podcast host, television producer, relationship expert, and ACS Certified Sexologist. She’s been a panelist, moderator, and speaker at Sexual Health Expo and as the ex-Head of Programming at Playboy TV, she created and produced seven seasons of sex-positive, premium programming for adults. Her work has been featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, Variety, Ebony, and more.

Wendy has comedic chops as well. She’s won the Lite Beer National Comedy Search and has written, produced, and directed The Wayne Brady Show in addition to content for Paramount, Fox, NBC, The Tonight Show, Oxygen, Lifetime, The Oprah Show, and others. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and teenage daughter.

Links and Resources:

• Wendy Miller
• Sex Ed The Musical
• 3 Secrets To The Happy & Healthy Relationship You’ve Always Fcking Wanted* by Wendy Miller
• @sexedmusicalpodcast on Instagram
• @wendymillerpodcast on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Can productivity really be the key to tipping the odds in your favor for living an even greater life than you imagine? My guest Mike Williams lives and breathes in stories of productivity. He has years and years of experience and plenty of stories to share about how we can gain clarity and be more productive for the best life possible.

In this episode, Mike shares how a date night spawned a heartbreaking realization that initiated his productivity journey. He also reveals two questions to ask yourself that can help increase your productivity and receive all the inherent benefits, and so much more. Listen to how he went from pressing the publish button on his first blog to being a company CEO, and you’ll discover the power of “pressing publish” to begin your own journey, telling personal stories on multiple levels, and winning small to win big.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to tell micro-stories at different levels of your life
• What causes people to get productivity wrong
• How to turn chaos into clarity

Who is Mike?

Mike Williams is a speaker, author, executive, and coach who helps leaders obtain small wins with a big impact on their lives and businesses. His dad was a football coach and teacher, so coaching and teaching have always been in his DNA. He gives people the actionable tools to succeed on their terms with less effort and be at the top of their game in all areas of life.

Through his leadership roles with General Electric, The David Allen Company, and Zappos, Mike kept noticing that people were desperate for a better path to productivity to help them fight digital distractions, mind clutter, and wasteful uses of their time. But the only resources available involved complex approaches, reading thick self-help books, or participating in boring seminars. He knew a better way existed--one rooted in simplicity and realism. So in his pursuit, he spent two decades working with thousands of people across different industries--from rocket scientists to students to nonprofit organizations.

Today, Mike assists clients using an effective coaching methodology that’s far from complicated. He also used what works to create Doing to Done, a visually engaging book about quick wins with significant impacts, coming in September 2021. Bringing a bit of Southern California energy to his work, he firmly believes that managing stress through better productivity shouldn’t be so stressful.

Links and Resources:

• Mike Williams
• Doing to Done
• Email: mike@doingtodone.com
• @askmikewilliams on Instagram
• @askmikewilliams on Twitter
• @askmikewilliams on LinkedIn
• Mike Williams on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m a high school freshman and I ask my Dad for lunch money. Simple request right? That ask turns into a lesson which ends up teaching me so much and has shaped my orientation around money. I bet you’ve had someone try to instill some financial knowledge and discipline in you too, at some point in your life. However, my guest this week took childhood knowledge above and beyond most, at a young age.

Andrew Abernathey began investing at the age of 13. Thirteen! He saved up $4,000 from a $5-an-hour wage and now, at age 27, has created a company with millions of dollars in assets. (Over $100 million to be exact.) In our conversation, he shares his stories on how he got started and what he found so fascinating about investing. You’ll hear about the 3rd-grade project that helped kick things into overdrive, his biggest mistake when first starting out, the problem he sees others have with investing money, common traits of billionaires we can all emulate, and much more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why focus is so important to your investing’s success story
• Why money diversification should come after you build wealth
• How to adopt a big-thinking attitude and limitless mindset

Who is Andrew?

Andrew Abernathey is the founder and CEO of Abernathy Holdings Co. (AHC) and began investing in a variety of public securities at the tender age of 13. Ever since getting hooked on finances, he’s held a deep interest in studying billionaires like Warren Buffet and Gary Tharaldson and their approach to investing and mindset.

He’s also had a deep interest in business that’s propelled him into other ventures. Alongside his brother, Andrew founded Abernathey Brothers Farm which has several operations in North Dakota and plants, grows, and harvests thousands of acres of small grains for open market selling. Since the launch of AHC in 2012, he’s shifted that company’s focus to invest in his family’s farming operations and develop class-A self-storage facilities around the country. From the beginning, AHC has beat market returns and grown assets to $100 million.

In addition to his business ventures, Andrew also participates in the non-profit sector. He works with Unseen to fight human trafficking worldwide and believes in the idea of donating money into a self-sustaining system that’ll, as that old saying goes, teach a man to feed himself for a lifetime.

Links and Resources:

• Andrew Abernathey
• Abernathey Holding Company
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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What if you have a personal story that’s hard to tell others? My guest today Brandy Gillmore has personal experience with this. She’s a world-renowned celebrity coach who’s made discoveries in working with the mind for healing and transformation in areas like business, health, and finances. She helps people change the trajectory of their stories.

Brandy went from living life to spending the majority of her day in pain and on morphine, lying in bed. After countless doctor visits, treatments, therapies, and more, she started delving into research to help her figure out how to heal herself. In the process, she discovered some fascinating information and she shares some of her insights today on the Storytelling School podcast.

Listen as Brandy tells the incredible story of how she recovered using her mind. She also describes the process of preparing the TEDx talk to relay her story that brought the audience listening to tears and on their feet. Through her story, she demonstrates the power of creating a deeper connection and a lasting impression with your audience.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the placebo effect works so well
• How emotions can really affect your physical body
• How to dial in and connect with others through your story

Who is Brandy?

Brandy Gillmore is a mind/body healing coach and spiritual leader. After a couple of unfortunate accidents, she found herself in extreme pain and relegated to using a wheelchair, cane, and walker to get around. Doctor after doctor told her they couldn’t do anything for her. Treatment after treatment failed or fell through. Alternative therapies did nothing for her.

Determined not to let that be the end of it, she continued spending years researching outside of the conventional health care system. Eventually, she was able to heal herself with her mind and promised to show others how to get rapid results doing the same, even under thermal medical equipment.

Today, Brandy works with celebrities, entrepreneurs, Olympic athletes, groups, and even conventional establishments globally to share her cutting-edge discoveries. Her goal: to help make the world healthier and happier by teaching people how to use the power of their minds!

Links and Resources: * Brandy Gillmore * Could This Be The Missing Link to Your Health? | Brandy Gillmore | TEDxSantaBarbara * @BrandyGillmore on Instagram * @BrandyGillmore on Twitter * @brandy.gillmore on Facebook * Storytelling School Website * @storytellingschool on Instagram * @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Sales. Interviews. Emails. Recruitment. Did you know that you can use storytelling in each of these areas to elevate business success? My guest O.P. Almaraz uses story as his strategic edge in business and so much more. We dive into not only how he does this, we also share how you can do the same thing to enhance your business.

O.P. and I explore the value of storytelling in the corporate world and by the way, if you aren’t incorporating stories into your business..yet... this is the episode for you. In addition, you’ll hear the impact of telling a vulnerable story in his TEDx Talk and we’ll take you behind the scenes of his first-ever workshop (which I helped him work on) that gave his business momentum and helped him make $16,000. If that’s not enough, you’ll hear play-by-play how one single personal story shared in one single email gained his company over $700,000 in revenue. (That’s not a typo!)

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to integrate storytelling into your business
• How repurposing stories multiplies your business success
• Why the story you tell yourself can lead to fortune or failure

Who is O.P.?

O.P. Almaraz grew up near Hollywood, but his life wasn’t exactly glamorous. His parents raised him on government cheese and food stamps. His mother encouraged her son’s dreams of a better life. But his father, a stern man, worked a hard labor job as an auto mechanic and didn’t expect his kids to rise above their economic circumstances. He even laughed when his young son expressed the idea of hiring a dealership to fix any broken car he owned instead of doing it himself.

To put it mildly, O.P. wasn’t happy about that reaction or his family’s financial situation. One day when his mother had an at-home interview for a real estate brokerage, the woman interviewing her showed up in a brand new Mercedes-Benz. That car became a symbol for O.P. Sick of being poor and mad at the world, he decided at that moment to focus relentlessly on his goal. He ran into hurdles, horror stories, and plenty of doubts from others along the way who thought he was too ambitious. He even failed his real estate exam--twice.

Nevertheless, he persisted. Today, O.P. is the founder and CEO of Allied Restoration, an insurance restoration company that assists middle and high-net-worth clients in Southern California. Experiencing the anger, pain, and humiliation of being poor and having others mock his dreams for something better became his inspiration for setting long-term goals that ended up changing his life.

Links and Resources: * Allied Restoration * Why what we fear can be our strongest ally | O.P. Almaraz | TEDxSantaBarbara * @opalmaraz on Instagram * @alliedrestoration on Instagram * @opalmaraz on LinkedIn * Allied Restoration on LinkedIn * OP Almaraz on Facebook * @alliedrestoration on Facebook * Storytelling School Website * @storytellingschool on Instagram * @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Imagine being in the middle of nowhere on a large ice cap in Patagonia with twelve people you don’t even know. You’re in 18 °F weather, surrounded by ice that can break at any moment, and your group hasn’t seen any other humans in days. You feel crazy to want to be here, yet it’s worth it because this quest just might change your life. Plus you’ll have a great story to tell someday...

My guest on the Storytelling School Podcast today leads expeditions exactly like the one I just described above. Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret, speaker, leadership expert, and coach who runs Crucible wilderness expeditions for executives and veterans around the world. So why did he start running his expeditions? What common traits has he noticed in great leaders, and what does grit mean to him?

Those are just some of the discussion points we get into today. We also explore the lack of a focus on feeling in the corporate world and how that impacts business long-term, as well as tools to help you be more humble and confident as a leader. In the process, you’ll get Jan’s expertise and hear stories showcasing how to fully step into leadership by creating a new story through overcoming challenges and strengthening your self-resiliency. While you might not be stuck on the third largest ice cap in the world right now, listening to this episode might just change your life too.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why slowing down actually accelerates your success
• How to handle your vulnerability and fear in leadership roles
• Where story comes into play when balancing confidence vs humility

Who is Jan?

Jan Rutherford is a successful executive coach and keynote speaker. As someone who values overcoming challenges to increase inner resiliency and effective leadership, he built his grit as one of the youngest and smallest military recruits at a mere 114 pounds at 17 years old. He became a Special Forces soldier, then earned the distinction of becoming a Green Beret. While in the military, he served three years as a medic, then an A-Team executive leader, then finally a military intelligence officer.

During his more than 25 years of business experience, Jan has held key executive roles in sales, marketing, training, business development, product management, and as a CEO. In 2011, he founded Self-Reliant Leadership® where he focuses on assisting leaders and teams to create powerful results through developing self-reliance. His clients have taken part in his workshops and Crucible® wilderness expeditions.

Currently, Jan also teaches leadership in the United States and in Ireland as a senior instructor at the Colorado Denver University’s Business School. In addition, he co-hosts a podcast, The Leadership Podcast, and has authored the book The Littlest Green Beret.

Links and Resources:

• Self-Reliant Leadership
• The Leadership Podcast
• The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership by Jan R. Rutherford, Jr.
• Suffer Everything - Dare Everything: Why Difficulties Matter | Jan Rutherford | TEDxYoungstown
• @janrutherford on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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What if you could have the kind of holiday event that guests talked about for years to come? What about creating a launch party that lands you on the cover of coveted magazines? How about planning a destination wedding so secretive that it required no-fly zones? Imagination opens up a world of impossibilities and my guest today lives her life bringing these types of fanciful stories to fruition.

Christina Matteucci is an event designer and the executive director of David Beahm Experiences where she has spent almost 20 years creating stories the world over. In addition, she is a noted speaker sharing her wisdom and unique perspective on stages from TEDx to sold out industry events. In this episode, Christina and I explore how to create stories of the future. She also shares the singular question she asks of her clients to reveal their deepest inspiration and make their event dreams come true. Listen as we dive into multiple actionable topics including celebrating what she calls your freakiness, building trust with storytelling, catering to different audiences with your stories, and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to reverse-engineer stories from desired outcomes
• Why it benefits you to embrace your uniqueness
• How to curate stories to match your audience

Who is Christina?

Christina Matteucci spearheads David Beahm Experiences as the #2 person behind the celebrity event designer. She’s serving her 19th year in collaboration with David as his executive director, skillfully carrying out unimaginably complex functions worldwide. She gives credit to her theater training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for her ability to dream up and produce splendid event experiences for clients.

As executive director, Christina encourages an innovative and deeply collaborative workplace and champions egalitarian business practices. Due to her team-building expertise, she counsels emerging professionals just starting their careers as well as CEOs who want to incorporate cooperative, harmonious cultures within their own business. In the process, she earned herself the nickname TeucciMama.

Christina has also enjoyed global speaking opportunities in the special events industry and has captivated and inspired audiences with humor and a straightforward, self-effacing approach. At TEDx in November 2019, she even shared the Bostonian stage with the First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid. Currently, you can find her on her website or on Instagram.

Links and Resources:

• Christina Matteucci
• David Beahm Experiences
• @teucchimama on Instagram
• @davidbeahm on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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When you think of storytelling, scientific studies and analyses aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind. So how can we capture audiences' attention when we have extensive data to present? My guest today Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is a pro at communicating the story behind scientific research that is dear to her heart. Her life’s work is in amplifying impact, and storytelling has played a huge role in her professional projects on a worldwide basis. She teases the story out of information to get people to pay attention to important causes.

In this episode, Rachel and I discuss the effectiveness of using stories for communicating issues at scale. How can story come into play when you’re looking at an issue and want to increase awareness of it to encourage change? What is one of the best ways to influence people to do something so that change actually happens? We answer all of these questions...plus, you’ll see exactly why storytelling can create ripple effects that change the world. Get ready, because we’re going deep on some important topics today!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories can stir action to change the world
• Why words are unnecessary to be a storyteller
• How to purposefully use story to highlight urgency

Who is Rachel?

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is a thought leader, creative writer, speaker, and former journalist who emphasizes climate and conservation, among other things, in her marketing and communications expertise. She assists in finding solutions that benefit people and the planet while still producing profit. Currently working as a communications and sustainability consultant, she intuitively understands how storytelling connects with causes to magnify impact.

As a sustainability expert, Rachel has gained recognition by appearing on The Today Show and CNN Headline News and being featured in Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the 5 Gyres Institute received a special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council under her leadership as its former Executive Director.

All of her experience has influenced her writing as well. Rachel has written for Organic Spa, Mommy Greenest, and Women’s Wear Daily and serves as an associate fiction editor at the Northwest Review. She’s also currently pursuing an MFA through the low-residency program at Pacific University.

Links and Resources:

• Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff
• @rachellincolnsarnoff on Instagram
• @rachellsarnoff on Twitter
• @RachelLincolnSarnoff on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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JLo and John Legend. HBO and CNN. Entertainment Tonight and The Voice. What do these people, companies and shows all have in common? Dean McFlicker, that’s what! My guest on this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast is an award-winning producer and director and he has been involved with all of the above in one capacity or another. He’s here today to take us behind the curtain and dig into the world of story through the lens of brand, whether it’s a personal, a show, or a business brand.

What can you add to a story to make it even more relatable and enjoyable? Why is it so vital for the tone of the story you tell in your marketing and your business brand to match? We get into all that as well as finding inspiration for stories, re-inventing yourself into a new story, and using your environment as a prompt for storytelling. Plus, Dean reveals his five essential elements to apply to bring great stories to life.

So much goodness awaits you, so tune in and enjoy the mike drop moments (there are several in this episode!) and stories involving Minions, Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga, and even dressed-up trophies along the way.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why every business needs a story
• How to find the deeper truth to your story
• What five elements to include for great storytelling

Who is Dean?

Dean McFlicker is an award-winning producer and director responsible for productions with some of the world’s biggest stars across the music and television industries. He has produced for HBO, CNN, NBC, Entertainment Tonight, E! NewsDaily, and Good Morning America. As an NBC producer, he’s been at the head of campaigns for The Olympic Games and shows like The Golden Globes, Survivor, The Blacklist, Star Trek Enterprise, The West Wing, and more. Additionally, his resume includes producing events with Dolly Parton, directing John Legend and JLo in Super Bowl ads, and creating hit shows with Minions.

Dean has made his mark on Broadway with choreographing shows like ShaBang and Gypsy of the Year* and producing at studios such as Studio 54, The Palladium, Universal Amphitheater, Royce Hall, and Wilshire Theater. On the stage, he’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Prince, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Pointer Sisters, Barry Manilow, and others on dozens of music videos, concerts, and other international events.

He’s also among Hollywood’s elite marketing experts. As NBC’s Senior Vice President of Promotional Programming, he launched countless TV shows that went on to become huge hits such as This is Us, The Biggest Loser, America’s Got Talent, Friday Night Lights, and all of the network’s live musicals.

Dean brings all of his experience and expertise to his role as a speaker and brand storytelling expert for businesses. In his problem-solving method “Producer’s Perspective”, he shares techniques from the entertainment world and translates them into practical tools for any industry in the business world. His work focuses on refining a brand’s story and finding an ideal place for the business in our fast-evolving media landscape.

Links and Resources:

• Dean McFlicker
• Listen to Dean’s TEDx talk: How to Get What You Want
• @deanmcflicker on Instagram
• @deanmcflicker on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“Observe with interest” is one of the nuggets of wisdom I say repeatedly thanks to my guest joining us today, Dr. Keith Witt. He teaches us that we can observe stories through an outside perspective, and when we do it with interest there are gifts just waiting for us. Dr. Witt is a licensed psychologist, teacher, author, and story practitioner who lives and breathes in story every day of his life.

He and I discuss the liberating and self-limiting stories in all our lives and the importance of feeling enchanted with whatever narrative we tell about ourselves and the world around us. You’ll hear about why transitioning from a negative to a positive story is a more complicated choice than it seems. We dig deep into the stories in our dreams and explore how dreams influence the narratives we share when we are awake plus we discuss techniques to interact with our dreams. Dr. Keith and I unpack why people can often feel resistance to telling, accepting, or sharing new stories. Get ready as Dr. Witt and I go deep in this mind-blowing episode!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How our dreams impact the stories we tell ourselves
• What it takes to shift your story permanently
• How to harness your dreams to impact your life stories

Who is Dr. Keith Witt?

Dr. Keith Witt was born in Hawaii and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. He decided to become a psychotherapist at age 15 after going to therapy himself and realizing he was a natural at it. Since then, he’s explored and followed his instinct, becoming a licensed psychologist who’s conducted over 65,000 therapy sessions.

He’s also a nationally and internationally recognized teacher and author of several books, including Shadow Light and Loving Completely. As founder of The School of Love, Dr. Witt has given presentations and classes that explored love, therapy, relationships, and personal development from multiple perspectives, integrating many forms of psychotherapy, traditions, and even neuroscience in the process.

He has lived and worked in Santa Barbara since 1967 where he met his wife Becky six years later. Still together, they enjoy life with their two grown children, Ethan and Zoe.

Links and Resources:

• Dr. Keith Witt
• Shadow Light: Illuminations at the Edge of Darkness by Dr. Keith Witt
• Loving Completely: A Five Star Practice for Creating Great Relationships by Dr. Keith Witt
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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“Stop. Make it more interesting.” Those are the words I hear from my instructor Jennifer Bascom while pretending to sip tea on stage in a high-stakes improv class in Los Angeles. With all eyes on me, that exercise marked a turning point in my skills as a performer. And...those simple words have gone on to have a huge impact on my storytelling craft. Jen knows the art of story. She has performed comedy and improv on stage and television, she’s a playwright, and you may have seen her in a Super Bowl commercial or two. In my time with her, I’ve learned skills that will stay with me forever and she has a lifetime’s worth of knowledge to share.

In this episode, she and I spill the tea on how improv really feels in the moment for performers, translating improv skills to the speaking circuit, and bringing concepts and teachings to life in a new way through storytelling. Not only do we share impactful improv stories, we also discuss the essential ingredients for great storytelling.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why emotions can make you a better storyteller
• How to get people to connect with your stories
• What improv lesson best lends itself to effective storytelling

Who is Jen?

Jennifer Bascom is a performer, writer, and sought-after improv coach. From Los Angeles to Qatar, she has taught improv around the world working with business organizations, corporations, comedy festivals, and theater companies. But her extensive resume includes a feast of TV, commercial, stage, online, and written works.

On television, Jen has been on various programs like The Bachelor, Jimmy Kimmel, House Hunters Renovations, America’s Cutest Kids, True Beauty, and others. She’s appeared in commercials for the likes of Progressive Insurance, Fox Sports, and Healthy Choice, including Super Bowl ads for General Motors and Walmart. She also writes for and acts in the web series, RelationFix and The Greeting Card Critic.

On the stage, Jen toured with Second City Theatricals and performed on Comedy Central, at Disney’s Comedy Warehouse, SAK Comedy Lab, RI Shakespeare Company, and in the Our Life and Times Review show off-Broadway. She was part of the original cast for Presumed Murder and has participated in several workshop casts with Disney Imagineering.

In 2018, Jen received an invitation to give a TEDx talk, and the following year she became a published playwright. In a post-pandemic world, her all-female improvised Shakespeare show Shrew will hit the road. Right now, she’s writing a play for Lineage Theater Co., an original content video game with NBCU, and you can see her on U-Jokes with Jonathan Mangum and ComedySportzLA’s virtual stage.

Links and Resources:

• Jen Bascom
• Listen to Jen’s TEDx talk: Sometimes, being right is just wrong.
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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We’ve all seen, read, or at least heard of stories about artificially intelligent life conquering humanity in sci-fi horror. Even though we doubt those fictional stories will actually come to pass, AI technology does affect our everyday lives, for better or worse.

Tyson McDowell has spent the majority of his career focusing on artificial intelligence. He started as a serial tech entrepreneur. Now, he’s a venture capitalist focused on positively merging humanity with AI-driven technology.

What is AI and what does it have to do with storytelling, from the engineer and layperson perspectives? Why do software startups and early-stage companies not have to follow current data privacy security standard levels? What role does storytelling play in both personal and professional pursuits?

In this episode, Tyson and I cover all those questions and more including, how social media affects our communication with each other and what the ideal changes are that can come to fruition in the world and affect the story we will tell. Plus, on this episode you’ll hear examples of the kind of unbeknown impact software companies can have on you as well as the effect the documentary drama The Social Dilemma had on Tyson’s TEDx talk about AI and Humanity.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why artificial intelligence can be both helpful and harmful
• How story influences personal and professional pursuits
• What changes are essential to merge humanity with AI

Who is Tyson?

Tyson McDowell is a keynote speaker, advisor, and consultant to established companies deploying artificial intelligence. He spent 20 years founding and running companies and watching as the world changed drastically due to the permeation of high-scale technology into everyday life. Inspired to increase his efforts toward impacting humanity with tech, he launched Greatscale Ventures in 2017. Through it, he’s helped accelerate early-stage tech companies serving the next generation of humanity.

But while Tyson focuses on business and technology, he also has a passion for aviation. He’s a certified private pilot with various type ratings including instrument, multi-engine, and helicopter, and serves as Vice Chairman of the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He’s even built his own commuter airplane and manages a portfolio of public and private actively flying historic aircraft. Currently, Tyson resides in San Diego, CA with his wife and daughter.

Links and Resources:

• Preserving Humanity as AI takes us over | Tyson McDowell
• Greatscale Ventures
• Follow Tyson on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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I’m sipping on my matcha almond latte at a local coffee house while enjoying the company of my dear friend Alan. Our first time in person together in over a year, we are laughing hysterically and recounting stand-out events of the past many months.

During our conversation, he mentions to me that he’s listened to every episode of this podcast. {Awww thank you, Alan!} He loves the interesting perspectives and insights the guests have had on the power of story. He shares he’s “in” and that he’s “a believer” in the strength of stories...and now he’s anxious to learn the “how” of storytelling.

I realized he’s right. If Alan is craving the “how”, then he’s probably not the only one. A lot of you are too. So I’m shaking up the plan and mixing things up in this episode.

This episode reveals critical tactics on how to tell stories, so grab your pen and a notebook!

You’ll hear a series of six, fast-action, bite-sized storytelling tactics you’ll be able to immediately put to use. I’ll cover storytelling structure, gathering story ideas, conflict within storytelling, when and where to use stories, mistaken beliefs about telling stories, and bringing your story to life. Every single one on its own is something you can take action on and build your storytelling muscles.

Here’s just a taste of what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to avoid pitfalls in storytelling
• When to use a story and when not to
• How to nail The Hero’s Journey story structure

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 300 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t and it turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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So many think the world of finances and financial planning can feel too dull, too heavy, or too unnecessary. My guest Arwen Becker has a gift of making it come to life by looking at it from different perspectives. She went from playing Division 1 collegiate volleyball to becoming a Zoology graduate to changing the story around financial planning and making it sexy through her use of story and emotional connection.

Has her industry left women out of the conversation too often? In this episode, Arwen tells us why finances don’t have to be boring and shares how she learned the necessity of financial planning for yourself the hard way. We also talk about why women struggle with spending money in retirement and have different learning and nurturing styles than men that need to be considered.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories affect your financial future
• If the long game really benefits your finances
• Why relying on your own discipline doesn’t work

Who is Arwen?

Arwen Becker has always shown perseverance and given her best effort. Despite her short stature, she played Division 1 volleyball in college. Just a few short months after getting attacked by a cougar, she became a divorcée at age 24. With the end of her marriage, she sought a higher-paying job and after landing a position at a newly launched retirement firm, her career in financial planning took off.

Over the years, Arwen has met thousands of women and realized there needed to be a focus on changing how women get treated within the financial industry. She created her training program in response, LIFE with Arwen. Through LIFE (Leaders Inspiring Female/Financial Empowerment), she helps financial advisors get a better handle on understanding how women learn differently, connecting through storytelling, and thriving with participation in women’s events. Her organization also gives advisors the needed tools to succeed in their practice and brings national awareness to the issue of women’s financial empowerment.

Arwen has been co-owner of Becker Retirement Group with her husband Randy for over two decades. She’s a national speaker, author, and podcast host and contributes to TD Ameritrade Network, Yahoo Finance, and many other publications.

Links and Resources:

• LIFE with Arwen
• Becker Retirement Group
• Follow Arwen on Instagram @arwenbecker
• Follow Arwen on Twitter @lifewitharwen
• Follow Arwen on Facebook @lifewitharwen
• Follow Arwen on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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When you think of how businesses tell their stories via public relations and get picked up by top tier publications, you probably think of these huge organizations with tons of money spent every month--we’re talking $10,000, $20,000, and more--to get people noticed and in the spotlight. My guest today, Gloria Chou, doesn’t have a background in public relations. Yet PR is her life’s work, and she does have a very unique take on the industry.

Is it possible for early stage businesses to DIY when it comes to PR? How can those who fear rejection approach reaching out to journalists? Why do PR features speed up client and customer acquisition?

In this episode, you’ll hear Gloria’s rebuttal to the idea of public relations as nice to have but not needed in telling the story of your business, why some choose to advertise over acquiring PR skills, and why early-stage businesses should forgo holding out for specific publications and be open to all. We also talk about Gloria’s CPR Pitching Method™ as well as a couple of hacks to bring your stories to life and make your public relations pitches even better.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What big PR mistakes early stage entrepreneurs make
• What 3 things your pitches must have to get a response
• How to get connected and find journalists starting today

Who is Gloria?

Gloria is a former TV producer and U.S. diplomat turned public relations mentor and pitch guru. Before her current role, she never worked in PR or had any industry contacts or journalist relationships. But she always knew she wanted to work in the industry and has spent all of her career using various media for storytelling that creates impact and opportunities for others.

Gloria doesn’t believe in public relations as something only established businesses can and should benefit from, nor does she advocate spending money on ads or sponsored content as a way for new businesses to get off the ground. She’s made it her mission to work to empower the smallest, most bootstrapped business founders (some without even a website) to position themselves as leading thought experts ready to be on the front pages of major publications.

She learned how to hack her own public relations by cold calling and emailing thousands of editors, learning what does and doesn’t work to create a winning methodology. Her CPR Pitching Method™ has helped thousands of small business owners build their credibility and get traction without the need for hiring an agency. Combined, Gloria has garnered her clients over a billion organic views in top-tier publications like Vogue, Fast Company, Forbes, the New York Times.

Links and Resources:

• Gloria Chou
• PR Secrets Masterclass
• CPR Pitching Method™
• Gloria’s Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Community
• Follow Gloria on Instagram @gloriachoupr
• Follow Gloria on LinkedIn @gloriaychou
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My guest today is a force! Attorney, author, speaker, and consultant Unni Turrettini is on a mission to restore trust in leadership while preventing domestic terrorism and cultivating a culture of peace. She looks at stories through so many different lenses, but I especially love that she tackles the hard stuff.

As the writer of books many consider controversial, she doesn’t back down. But how does Unni pick the stories to tell and bring to life? Why did she feel compelled to research mass murderers like Anders Behring Breivik? And why did she switch from exclusively telling stories on paper to bringing her storytelling abilities in front of the camera?

In this episode, Unni talks about recognizing herself in Breivik’s childhood struggle and examining similar mass killers worldwide for her book. We also dive into the power and necessity of gaining different perspectives than our own, what’s lacking in a lot of today’s global leaders, and more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why there is gold in the act of attentively listening
• How stories can connect us with ourselves
• Why it’s necessary to understand the other’s POV

Who is Unni?

Born in Norway, Unni Turrettini is a lawyer turned best-selling author, international speaker, and thought leader. She has lived as a global citizen in her country of birth, France, Switzerland, and the U.S., earning multiple law degrees along the way. She’s also a member of the New York Bar and worked for several years in law and finance in Paris and Geneva.

While working as a lawyer in Europe, Unni realized that people struggle for power and influence when they don’t feel valued and seen. She sees disconnection as the main reason for abuse and corrupt leadership in the world. Her own multicultural life has given her a perspective with deep understanding and compassion for the differences in cultures and people worldwide.

In her book The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer, Unni takes a sociological and psychological perspective to examine Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass murder responsible for killing 77 people in 2011. In it, she focuses on what can be learned from the attack to stop killing sprees based on extremist ideology. Her book won the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Nonfiction in 2016.

That same year, Unni returned to Norway to live in Oslo with her husband and two kids. Now, she frequently travels to hold retreats, workshops, and speaking engagements aimed at helping women empower themselves with the rediscovery of their truth and working with corporations on gender equality issues to create win-win situations for all involved.

Links and Resources:

• Unni Turrettini
• Follow Unni on Instagram @unnitur
• Follow Unni on Facebook @unni.turrettini
• Follow Unni on LinkedIn @unniturrettini
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Imagine if you had 1,000 or even 100,000 followers on social media… and lost them all in one day. For my guest today, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario; he knows exactly what that feels like.

Christos Nikas has this incredible way of bringing stories to life on Instagram. His posts come alive and they make me feel something, think and dig deeper and play a bigger game. He himself had to dig deep when his account got suspended several times in short order last year. On today’s show, he shares the story about that experience and so much more.

What’s Christos’ perspective on how story influences what he does on Instagram? How did he transition from hating Instagram to embracing the social media platform? What caused the shutting down of his account multiple times? We explore how much to actually give to your audience, how to get the attention of key players on Instagram, and why the platform resembles a big festival. Hang on because you’re in for a ride today!

What you will learn in this episode:

• What role storytelling plays on Instagram
• How much to actually give to your followers
• If company executives should use IG for business

Who is Christos?

Christos Nikas hails from Athens, Greece and has earned himself the nickname The Instagram Professor from his community. He’s a graphic designer, content creator, event professional, and perpetual student with a natural talent for educating others since 2004. He focuses on speaking, coaching, and creating content online that assists freelancers and creative entrepreneurs in understanding and growing their business side. His content covers topics like: better handling of objections and negotiations, charging for profit, creative selling, and maximizing every communication detail online and offline.

Back in 1996, Christos joined the wedding industry and remains active in the business today by managing Wedding Republic, one of Greece’s leading event entertainment firms. He started offering seminars and coaching in 2018, and in the following year he created his YouTube channel, the Creative Business Show. On it, he uploads content every week providing straightforward, clear advice on how to grow your creative business. Christos’ objective: to inspire professionals to become creative business machines.

Links and Resources:

• Christos Nikas
• Follow Christos on Instagram @thechristosnikas
• Follow Christos on Facebook @ChristosNikas
• Follow Christos on YouTube @creativebusinesshow
• Follow Christos on LinkedIn @ChristosNikas
• Follow Christos on Twitter @Nikas_Christos
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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We can’t be in business without customers and clients. Therefore, how do we stack the deck to earn their patronage?

My guest today is an expert in the customer experience and more specifically in creating memories. Darren Ross operates the Magic Castle Hotel in Hollywood, CA, and has a gift for creating memories, unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before.

Want to know what bothers him about the typical hotel experience, especially at major chains? Or how he uniquely attracts customers? Or how the famous Popsicle Hotline at his hotel operates? In this episode, Darren and I discuss a ton of tantalizing topics including: using story as a competitive advantage, training our service reflex and its impact on creative thinking, behaving nicely as a consumer which results in surprises (Hello free upgrade!) and a whole lot more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How creating moments earn memories
• Why business owners should incentivize story creation
• How to develop a service reflex

Who is Darren?

In 1995, Darren Ross wanted to make a career out of making people happy. So he started working in hospitality with Hyatt Hotels and won an award from the California Tourism Board two years later for “Hospitality Employee of the Year.” He left in 1998 for a spot on the opening management team for the Beach House Hotel in Hermosa Beach, CA where he created its standards of service.

After leaving the Beach House, Darren started a “secret shopping” company focused on restaurants and hotels where he and his staff went undercover to evaluate the customer experience for companies. One of those companies was the private club The Magic Castle in Hollywood. After soliciting his services, the family that owned the club offered him a General Manager position for the hotel of the same name next door. They handed him the keys to managing all three of their properties soon after.

In 2013, Darren created his hotel management company Service Freak Hospitality, LLC and under him, the hotel went from ordinary-looking with limited services to a multi-award-winning business with unique amenities and high customer service levels. Magic Castle Hotel has received the Best Guest Relations in California award from the state’s Hotel Lodging Association six out of the last nine years. It’s also consistently in the top hotels in Los Angeles on Tripadvisor and has been featured multiple times in books, podcasts, and customer service articles.

Links and Resources:

• Magic Castle Hotel
• Service Freak Hospitality
• Follow Darren on LinkedIn @darren-ross-43022a1
• Call Darren at: 310-753-3707 (Seriously - that’s his mobile.)
• Email Darren at: darren@servicefreak.com
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Mentor, writer, speaker, spoken-word poet, behavioral scientist--I could spend hours and hours touching on every single one of these titles for my guest, Dr. Jeremy Goldberg. He’s run the gamut from studying how attitudes affect the actions we take to ranting about love, life, and everything in between online. For the last decade, he’s striven to make kindness cool, empathy popular, and compassion commonplace.

How has story influenced his life? What do stories and rabbit holes have in common? How does the 1980s show The A-Team influence the way he coaches his clients? What sparked his current mission? What action can you take today to live a life that would make you jealous? Dr. Jeremy and I discuss these issues and more in this wickedly fun and insightfully jam-packed interview you won’t want to miss!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How choice leads to narrative change
• What it means to cultivate...the pause
• Why kindness needs to be cool

Who is Dr. Jeremy Goldberg?

As a self-proclaimed recovering scientist turned life coach, Dr. Jeremy Goldberg is an expert in human behavior, spending five years studying the influence of our minds on our actions. He’s worked for international governments and universities and managed millions of dollars and teams of people. In addition, he’s trained himself through many scientific studies and self-help books.

Along with his actual Ph.D., life gave him an honorary doctorate in the School of Hard Knocks where he hit rock bottom and climbed back through major changes in his way of thinking. Now, as the founder of Long Distance Love Bombs, Dr. Goldberg’s mission lies in helping others do the same and make the world better than yesterday in the process. So he’s coached clients; written articles, emails, and a book; hosted retreats, workshops, and a podcast; and created spoken-word poetry videos and social media accounts with over 60,000 people combined.

Links and Resources:

• Love Distance Love Bombs
• It’ll Be Okay and You Will Be Too by Dr. Jeremy Goldberg
• Long Distance Love Bombs podcast
• Follow Dr. Goldberg on Instagram @lovedistancelovebombs
• Follow Dr. Goldberg on Facebook @LoveDistanceLoveBombs
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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What exactly does it mean to champion urban health? How does story influence people’s decisions? My guest today is a true thought leader. Dr. Yonette Thomas has had deep training in research and serves as an urban health champion around the globe.

What does all of that have to do with storytelling? In this episode, Dr. Yonette Thomas talks about the health and well-being of urban areas and brings statistical data to life through the stories of people who live in these communities. She and I also discuss what she calls the flickering of the career light bulb, amplifying your signal with story as a professional, and why failure is a good thing.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories are integral for professionals worldwide
• How you can use story to advance your career
• What benefit you can derive from failure

Who is Dr. Yonette Thomas?

Recognized around the world as a thought leader, Dr. Yonette Thomas is an urban health champion who’s held academic positions at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Howard University. She’s also served as a vice president for research and the Chief of Epidemiology in the NIDA/NIH.

She’s a member of several important institutions focused on global health. As a social epidemiologist and medical sociologist, Dr. Yonette Thomas founded UrbanHealth360, an NGO focused on health in urban populations in the Global South. She also founded Borjoner International and Strategic Transitions to influence the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide and leads the Women’s Economic Imperative to advocate the financial value of women and girls’ health. Her resume extends even further with her work as a global advisor for institutions specifically focused on health systems and healthy populations in Asia and Africa.

In addition, she’s helped many of her colleagues throughout her professional career with clearly defining their professional and personal needs, identifying advancement opportunities, and navigating an effective path to achieve their dreams. Taking her own advice and following her passion, Dr. Yonette Thomas formed Strategic Transitions LLC to help people at all stages of their journey keep their passion alive while making strategic career transitions.

Links and Resources:

• Dr. Yonette Thomas
• @dryonettefthomas on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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No matter our successes, we battle inside voices at some point or another that tell us {likely untrue} stories, trying to dissuade us from taking risks. My guest today, Victoria Labalme, has coined a concept where she shares strategies that’ll both reassure and free you if you’ve been struggling to take the next step or try something new. She has an illustrious background in the arts--from performing to directing and producing. She’s also a consultant to well-loved brands the world over and a keynote speaker who’s given talks worldwide, including on the TEDx stage. Based on that talk, she has now authored a new book, Risk Forward®.

During our interview which is packed with actionable advice, Victoria reveals the impact that stories and storytelling have had on her career. She also talks about how she approached creating her book in order to make it a multisensory experience for others. We dive into telling resonant stories, unpacking how to trust in the power of your own ideas, how to pick stories when speaking to an audience and even a film technique she uses to teach people to rethink their lives.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you may not need a plan
• How to share your ideas with others without fear
• What critical pieces are needed to be a storytelling leader today

Who is Victoria?

Victoria Labalme is a keynote speaker, performing artist, performing coach, and graduate of Stanford University. She assists organizations and individuals to discover their genius ideas and express them at the highest level in their work, on-stage, on camera, and in life.

As an inductee into the Speaker Hall of Fame, she has a reputation for her keynote performances and workshops worldwide and has shared the stage with people like Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield. Hundreds of thousands of people--from entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and consultants to best-selling authors, professors, scientists, and executives--have embraced her systems and strategies. She’s coached elite individuals for high-stakes presentations including Oprah’s SuperSoul Session, PBS Specials, and arena events.

Victoria has over 20 years of performing experience. Her theater and film work have received critical acclaim from several media organizations like The New York Times, BBC, Variety, Good Morning America, and The Hollywood Reporter. As the founder of Risk Forward® and Rock The Room®, she’s currently focused on blending art and business in a way that helps others distinguish their work.

Links and Resources:

• Victoria Labalme
• Victoria on Instagram
• Risk Forward
• Risk Forward Promotion
• Rock the Room
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Gang investigations, patrol, and internal affairs--those are just a few positions my guest today has held during his 16-year career as a law enforcement officer. During his career, Garrett TeSlaa has lived a life of stories, lots of which he can’t share, yet storytelling has infused his profession in some surprising ways.

Why in the world would anyone want to even go into law enforcement with such scrutiny on that profession right now? Does storytelling belong within the law enforcement profession? How do people misinterpret the power of story, especially misunderstandings communications between police officers and the public? Garrett answers these questions and more during our fascinating conversation!

We discuss the number one obstacle facing cops and the communities they serve right now, the type of officers most reluctant or best equipped to deal with that obstacle, and what departments need to do to confront the issue. Garrett also shares a time where story served as an unexpected opportunity to build trust on the job and walks through how he uses a storytelling tool I taught him that you can put into practice immediately.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How story can build trust and value for others in need
• What law enforcement today faces as its biggest challenge
• How people misinterpret the power of story

Who is Garrett?

Garrett TeSlaa left behind a successful career in music and film in 2005 for a career in public service. He graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and obtained his Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Public Sector Management.

For 16 years, he’s served on active duty as an officer of the law in southern California. Garrett has held assignments in patrol, community relationships, gang investigations, media relations, and internal affairs, among others. He’s also found himself involved in several critical events that brought international press attention. Currently, he hosts The Squad Room, a podcast geared towards personal development for first responders.

Links and Resources:

• The Squad Room
• @thesquadroom on Twitter
• @thesquadroompodcast on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Think human trafficking is just a problem somewhere else? Think again. This modern-day form of slavery affects over 40 million people around the world with one in 10 of those victims being a child. My guest today, Than Baardson, makes the fight against human trafficking his life’s work. He and his team at Unseen have been leading the charge in accelerating the fight and its root causes around the world for over 10 years now.

During my interview with Than, he talks about the impact of human trafficking and shares stories you won’t want to miss. You’ll hear about how one company incorporated the mission against human trafficking in a completely unique way, a recent major triumph against trafficking in Central Asia, and how one woman escaped and fought back against her perpetrator. We also discuss the power of a simple thank you, how story is woven into everything Unseen does, and more before wrapping it up with Than’s thoughts about storytelling for organizations (whether profit or nonprofit).

What you will learn in this episode:

• How we can make a dent in human trafficking
• Why a thank you is such a powerful tool
• How stories are a must for nonprofits (and for profits)

Who is Than?

Than Baardson is the co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Unseen who began his career as a firefighter. A former member of the North Dakota Air National Guard for over seven years, he’s also had careers as a broadcast journalist and photojournalist. In addition to Unseen, he continues his work in journalism and photography and also serves as a speaker, documentary filmmaker, writer, and communications specialist.

Than serves leaders around the globe who fight against some of today’s greatest injustices. Through Unseen, he collaborates with a broad spectrum of worldwide participants to help underwrite the efforts of partners to reduce human trafficking. He and everyone at the organization envision a world where exploiters get caught, vulnerable people have livelihoods, and trafficking survivors can live freely and have an impact on the world.

Links and Resources:

• Unseen
• @WeAreUnseen on Facebook
• @_weareunseen on Instagram
• @_weareunseen on Twitter
• @Unseen on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My guest today, John Abbott, started with a quest to learn everything he could about the language of performers. What he didn’t know is that he’d become one. Ever since immersing himself in the improv world in 1999, he’s graduated from three improv training programs, founded several improv teams, seen several thousand performances, held performances of his own, and coached groups and workshops across the country.

In this episode, he and I discuss what inspired him to get involved in improv, his perspective on how story and improv intersect, unexpected reactions (or lack thereof) from your audience, and performing the same thing with different intentions. We also dive into what he thinks makes a great story and great characters, and what lessons he sees from improv that can apply to life.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What the hardest thing for people to do in improv is
• Why performers should rehearse with distractions
• Why well-written characters make story come alive

Who is John?

John Abbott graduated from Second City, Annoyance, and iO’s training programs. He’s a founding member of several improv teams at the iO and Playground theaters such as Pork, Calcutta, The Warehouse, and Wing Night. At iO alone, he estimates he’s seen over 5,000 improv performances in a 9-year period.

He’s performed at the Gainesville and Chicago Improv Festivals and with Sharon Kom in the duo Photo Shoot which was a feature of the New Orleans Improv Festival. John has also coached improv groups and taught workshops around the U.S. At The Playground Theater, he began the Improviser’s Studio workshop program and founded Individual Improv Intensive (I3) which provides performers with individual feedback.

In addition to performing and coaching, he has been the official photographer for the Chicago Improv Festival since 2001. Nowadays, John performs with the musical improv team Dirty Bars at WestSide Improv in Wheaton, Illinois in addition to a weekly radio show at the American Improv Theater in San Jose. John also coaches the Therapy Players in Chicago alongside An Embarrassment of Pandas in Santa Barbara and his improv team and Shade Tree in Wheaton.

Links and Resources:

• Westside Improv
• American Improv Theater
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Everything about voice ties into storytelling. From the tone expressed to even the decibel used in certain parts of a story, voice has a huge impact in giving meaning and feeling to the tales we tell. You’re in for a treat today as my guest Dan Teadt, a voice coach and performance expert, always provides an audience with plenty to chew on whether he’s working at Carnegie Mellon University, working with clients across the globe, or doing a podcast interview.

In this episode, Dan and I cover a ton of information in such a short amount of time. Among the topics we tackle: sound ethics and embracing the flaws and faults in our voices, the effect of vocal work and sound on communication, the importance of using breathwork as part of voice training, and finding the little things you enjoy doing as a storyteller. You’ll hear about the advice Dan gives to people who aren’t fond of the sound of their own voices. Along the way, he provides several exercises and tips for warming up and helping to sustain your voice.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How someone finds their authentic sound
• How to warm up your vocal instrument
• How to take smart care of your voice

Who is Daniel?

Daniel Teadt is a voice practitioner and assistant teaching professor of voice at Carnegie Mellon University. He’s worked for decades in operas, concerts, and recitals as an internationally-acclaimed vocal artist and has been a highly sought-after voice and performance coach on four continents. His clientèle includes experienced executives at major corporations, globally-recognized classical singers, and anyone wanting to authentically communicate with credibility and authority.

As a believer in the human voice as one of our greatest natural resources, Daniel aspires to make communication sustainable and authentic so that it reveals the intimate vocal lines that connect everyone. His work has led him to guide others toward a better understanding of their voice and potential, discover their true sound, and become voice leaders in their fields. For him, a credible voice can become incredible and what’s epic about the voice is available for use every day.

Links and Resources:

• Daniel Teadt
• @danielteadt on Twitter
• @danielteadtvoice on Instagram
• @danielteadtvoice on Facebook
• @danielteadt on Soundcloud
• @danielteadt on YouTube
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Get ready for a different kind of episode! As a speaking strategist, I’ve had the opportunity to work with people all over the globe in just about every industry you can imagine. What’s fascinating is there are certain questions they all ask, no matter what their professional background is. Therefore, this week I’m doing something I’m calling, “Client Confidential”-- tackling those tough questions so you can benefit from knowing the answers too. In this action-packed episode, you’ll hear my insights, strategies, and tactics you can put to use immediately as we look at topics such as finding ideas, selecting lessons to teach and stories to tell for your talk, inspiring people to take action, becoming more disciplined, leaving an impression, and earning a speaking invitation.

Here’s just a taste of what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to unlock your creativity and ideas
• Why stories of struggle can be gold
• How visibility attracts speaking invitations

A little about me:

Hi there. I’m Kymberlee.

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 300 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t and it turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Stories have the power to transform our lives in unexpected ways. My guest today, Jonathan Altfeld, is a dear friend and an absolutely fascinating person with one of the best jobs on the planet: he focuses on the language of story in his work. He has a decades-long fascination with the power of story to inspire us, help us wire around problems, and create new options for ourselves. That’s one of the biggest outcomes that he gets with his students--getting them unstuck and creating new possibilities for people.

In this episode, Jonathan and I dig into many powerful aspects of story including why human beings are experts at getting in our own way, how Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can influence your storytelling, what the impact of hypnotherapist Milton Erickson is on the field as a storyteller and so much more. Jonathan also unpacks his pattern matching process (You won’t want to miss this!) with plenty of stories to highlight throughout.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories can bypass our conscious resistance
• Why you should always start with the outcome in mind
• How to implement active language in your communication

Who is Jonathan?

Jonathan Altfeld is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming trainer who has had a fascination for how stories connect and move us to grow and change for 30 years. He’s explored the works of Carl Jung, Joseph Cambell, hypnotherapist Milton Erickson and other NLP experts, mythology, and other literary influences in the process.

He’s had two career paths: one in artificial intelligence before starting to train and coach people globally in 1997. These days, he serves as a communication skills expert’s expert, a business and personal coach, and a consultant and is the author of several unique professional and personal development programs.

Jonathan’s focus mostly lies on the practical business use of NLP for more effective and influential training, coaching, scriptwriting, copywriting, and email crafting, along with his process for mapping expertise for knowledge mining and transfer. He remains deeply passionate about and fascinated with creating teaching stories and metaphors that help people, consciously and subconsciously, achieve extraordinary results that help evolve them to their next level.

Links and Resources:

• Neuro-Linguistic Programming
• Mastery InSight Institute
• GeniusMapping™
• @jonathanaltfeld on Twitter
• Jonathan Altfeld on LinkedIn
• @masteryinsight on Facebook
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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From Carnegie Mellon to Juilliard to CalArts, my guest today has served on the faculties of some prestigious institutions. Peter Frisch, is a nationally-recognized director, producer and instructor, teaching hundreds of actors across the U.S. and has poured many hours into television work and theater productions. With that type of background, you know he has plenty of juicy storytelling insights and anecdotes to share.

During my discussion with Peter, we examine the concept of play when practicing the storytelling craft. He also takes us on an exploration through static and dynamic perspective, two different acting styles and which is directly related to effective storytelling. We also dig into storytelling through the lens of personality versus transformational actors (even naming some names). Along the way, he peppers his own stories from the stage which you won’t want to miss.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why story can serve as a medium for guidance and change
• How non-actors can apply stage principals to enhance storytelling
• How play becomes essential in the craft of storytelling

Who is Peter?

Peter Frisch’s work has taken him from coast to coast and across borders. He’s directed 160 regional theater and New York-based productions, as well as produced 150 hours of network television. He was Head of Drama at Carnegie Mellon and has served on the conservatory faculty of The Juilliard School, CalArts, Harvard University, and Boston University.

Peter served as Producer of the CBS soap The Young and the Restless and Fox Network’s Tribes in Los Angeles. He was also the Executive Director of The Granada Theater and the Granada Restoration in Santa Barbara, Resident Director with the Berkshire Theatre Festival and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Director of American Playwrights Theatre in Washington D.C. Along with Studs Terkel, he co-authored American Dreams which played in New York and across the U.S. and Canada.

Aside from being widely published in journals, Peter’s accolades include Joseph Jefferson, Outer Circle, Helen Hayes, and American Express/Kennedy Center Awards. He even won a “Best of the Fest” Award at the Seattle Film Festival for his macabre comedy Deadication.

Currently, he has a private practice that has taught hundreds of actors in Boston, New York, and L.A. and now offers actor classes in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. He also directs a theater company in Santa Barbara and has a book, The Transformational Actor, coming soon which will be available on April 1, 2021.

Links and Resources:

• The Frisch Approach: Transformational Acting
• Peter Frisch on Facebook
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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Against overwhelming odds and improbable beginnings, anything is possible when you have the will to succeed. That’s a lesson my guest today lives by. I’m talking to a dear friend, TEDx Speaker and Fire Captain, Shelli Varela, who lives her life redefining what is possible over and over again. Formerly, she was an artist unclear about her life’s path. While meeting a firefighter, she discovered the chance to not only learn about the job but ignite something magical within herself. She would use that magic to correct some of the teachings she’d been given and help transform her fire department.

During my interview with Shelli, we explore many topics including: How do you know what really lights you up? Which three words changed the trajectory of Shelli’s life? Why was her story of her 8-year old bullied self more effective than her firefighter story? What is Shelli’s definition of story and what nuggets can you walk away with that can change your perception?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How different stories can affect your audience
• Why vulnerability makes for better storytelling
• How you can create memories for others

Who is Shelli?

In 1994, Shelli Varela became the first female firefighter in Canada’s 6th largest city. She had to overcome the physical odds of her 108-pound body, and after initial failure and months of work, she succeeded. She not only went on to become its first and only female Fire Captain but also twice won the Firefighter of the Year Award.

At first, Shelli hesitated to apply for a firefighter position. But then, she heard three words whispered in her ear that forever changed the course of her life. Ever since, she’s been teaching others to uncover and tell their stories in powerful ways, in addition to still fighting fires. She’s even authored a children’s book to teach readers that everything is possible and you can accomplish anything you choose.

Shelli has the gift of seeing the gift in other people. Her life path now involves using this gift to help her clients re-frame their stories so they can change the world with it. Her motto: a well-told story serves, spreads, and sells.

Links and Resources:

• @shellivarela on Instagram
• @shelliraevarela on Facebook
• @shellivarela on Twitter
• Peanut Meets the Pigtailed Firefighter by Sheila Varela
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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From being the musical director of one of the most well-known productions in the history of Broadway to now changing the world through story and our view of ourselves, my guest today has a well of wisdom to share with us. During his career and working on Hamilton as its musical director, Julian Reeve brought story to life through music and emotion. In this episode, he talks about the success of Hamilton and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s gift as a storyteller, being better as a performer the freer you feel, and becoming aware of perfectionism’s effect on him and using self-compassion as a tool to manage it.

In our interview, we explore such questions as: Why is Hamilton such a success? What did Julian newly discover that he could dive into, years after conducting the show? What happened in Puerto Rico that forced him to stop and essentially ended his career? What would he say to someone who acknowledges that their perfection prevents them from getting their story out there?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why moral leadership is a powerful tool
• How to keep repeated storytelling fresh
• How to approach managing perfectionism

Who is Julian?

Julian Reeve was born in Cambridge, England and has enjoyed successful careers in music, business, and education. Before moving to the United States and becoming the Music Director for Hamilton on its first national tour, he traveled the world as a musician and worked on over 25 major musical theater productions across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

In business and education, he produced and promoted the Oleta Adams in Concert UK tour, co-founded a London-based boutique talent agency representing over 100 performers, and worked extensively as a performance specialist in leading performing arts schools across the UK. He’d go on to become a faculty member of The Broadway Experience in Tokyo and New York and create an educational company that provides Broadway workshops to schools and theater communities worldwide.

At age 43, Julian suffered a mild heart attack after a performance of Hamilton in San Francisco. Identifying the root cause as perfectionism, he realized that having a better understanding of his perfectionism at an earlier age could’ve prevented this experience. He quit performing and started striving to change the way people perceive and manage perfectionism to ensure that perfectionists (and those who employ them) can still thrive.

To that end, he recently invented a superhero for younger perfectionists, Captain Perfection, and published a self-help book featuring the character. Julian aims for his creation to empower kids to develop healthy management techniques for their perfectionism through self-compassion. His book leans heavily on research that states that interventions with self-compassion moderate the link between depression and perfectionism, which he also talks about in his 2019 TEDx Talk and his work with businesses.

Links and Resources:

• Julian Reeve
• Julian Reeve @Instagram
• Julian Reeve on LinkedIn
• Julian Reeve on Facebook
• “TEDx Talk: Reframing Perfection - the vital need for change”
• Captain Perfection
• Captain Perfection & the Secret of Self-Compassion: A self-help book for the young perfectionist by Julian Reeve
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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How do you go from a start-up business by a young, orphaned boy to an organization that takes care of each other like family, three generations later? My guest today, Greg Smith, is a 3rd generation business owner and quite the storyteller. In this episode, he talks about inheriting a business begun by his grandfather over 67 years ago, a $300,000 mistake, caught just in time, that turned out well for the company in the long-run, and so much more.

Greg and I explore questions such as: How has story played a role in the culture of his entire organization? How can telling stories help in fundraising? And what’s a significant lesson you can put into action immediately?

What you will learn in this episode:

• How storytelling fits into legacy and culture
• Why timing is critical no matter the situation
• How you can be vulnerable yet not afraid

Who is Greg?

Greg Smith was born into an entrepreneurial family in Youngstown, Ohio, where he first learned about leadership from his grandfather’s and father’s stewardship of the family business. He watched as they successfully managed a diverse workforce in both good and bad economic times. Now, he serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Culture Officer at the steel products company his grandfather founded.

Also, Greg is an accomplished TEDx speaker and author of Speak Like a Pro without Looking Like a Jack@$$. His education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing from Miami University and a Masters in Business Administration in Strengths Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln/Gallup University. He’s currently a communications doctoral student at Liberty University.

Greg loves helping people make a more significant impact on leadership and communication. He believes in and studies best practices in communication, having been personally coached by several industry leaders. For him, authentic leaders must communicate clearly and persuasively if they hope to inspire outstanding achievement.

Outside of the family business, he enjoys coaching others on public speaking and is a business collaboration catalyst with specialties in personal/team development and leadership expertise. He has served three years as an instructor in the School of Communication at Youngstown State University. Currently, Greg resides in Ohio with his wife, Nancy, and four kids.

Links and Resources:

• Greg Smith Leadership
• Greg Smith on LinkedIn
• Compco Quaker Manufacturing Inc.
• Honesty – Self-Righteousness + Vulnerability = Authenticity from Bring Your Whole Self to Work by Mike Robbins
• Speak Like a Pro without Looking Like a Jack@$$ by Greg Smith
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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My guest, Mo Barrett, has a remarkable way of bringing her stories to life. In today’s episode, she and I talk about telling stories simply through living and being yourself, even if you can’t always outwardly express it to others. We dive into her 25-year career in the military, the nuances of storytelling that helped propel her speaking career, and her insistence on everyone being able to find their tribe.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Living your truth as your story
• Unapologetically embracing your true self, quirks and all
• Having a medium through which to tell your story

Who is Mo?

Michelle “Mo” Barrett went from failing the Air Force Academy, being the first member of her pilot training class to receive an “Unsatisfactory” grade in the process, to retiring as an Air Force Colonel 25 years later. As an Air Force pilot, she flew the Alenia C-27A throughout Central and South America. Then she moved to Northern California to fly the Lockheed C-5 around the world. After 9/11, Mo deployed to bases in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan with a small team and converted them from empty fields to airlift hubs.

Mo has also dealt with the stigma, strain, shame, and success of being a life-long, non-conforming gay woman in the military’s structured environment. As a lesbian, she experienced the rule-changing gamut of gays being banned to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to that policy’s repeal and acceptance of gays in the military. During her career, she leveraged hard work and an ability to view the world with a sense of humor, optimism, and perspective.

Now in retirement from the Air Force, Mo uses those skills as a professional speaker. She thrives as a multi-minority woman and connects with audiences across all ages and walks of life, entertaining them with her unique presentation style and contagious energy. Her mission in life right now: to chart a course for people who want to laugh, learn, and think.

Links and Resources:

Mo’s Website

Storytelling School’s Website

@storytellingschool on Instagram

@storytellingSchool on Facebook

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In today’s episode, I speak with Alan Irwin, and we talk about improv performance and how it relates to storytelling. We dive deep into characters, discover how else improv can influence and enhance our storytelling ability and learn how Alan prepared himself to give compelling technical talks. Along the way, we discuss some of the lessons I’ve picked up from him during my improv journey and we enjoy a squeaky bunny impression or two.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why it’s critical that you prepare, don’t plan
• What learning about character can give you
• How to use objects to tell interesting stories

Who’s Alan?

Storytelling has played a role in both of Alan Irwin’s careers in different ways. He recently retired from a career spent in the infrared industry as a senior software engineer by day. However, he stumbled into improvisational comedy in his 30s and by night has performed it for over 30 years, while also spending most of that time teaching improv.

Improvisation has transformed Alan’s teaching of infrared technology. His secret weapon lies in his penchant for making complex subjects accessible and fun. It has served him well worldwide in speaking engagements on a wide range of other topics, from robotics to crisis intervention (including suicide prevention). He’s taken on the task of communicating very complex ideas to others in tech and his interests like geek culture and cheese making.

What is improv, really, and why is it a challenging yet rewarding form of storytelling? What elements of structure does Alan keep in mind when performing? How did he use characters to help speakers in his workshops stretch their limits? What was the most challenging thing for him to understand when speaking to others in his technical field? Listen to his thoughts on these and a host of other related topics, based on his decades of experience.

Links and Resources:

• Santa Barbara Improv
• Storytelling School
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

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In this episode, my guest Traver Boehm and I discuss how he uses stories to grow his movement. We explore: How he uses story to his advantage on Instagram when so many believe they can’t tell a story on social media? What makes a great story? Who’s one of his favorite storytellers of all time and why? What advice can he offer to help you become a better storyteller?

What you will learn in this episode:

• Perseverance through pain
• Living in the now
• Redefine yourself

Who is Traver?

What would you do if you lost your marriage, unborn child, and business partner within weeks of each other? Traver, an author and two-time TEDx speaker confronted these issues and now teaches people to use the inevitable pain of their lives as fuel for positive change and growth. He’s a men’s coach and founder of the UNcivilized Men’s Movement. His eclectic background ranges from working as a professional bodyguard and mixed martial artist to practicing traditional Chinese medicine and meditation.

Traver sees his mission is to change the culture of masculinity worldwide. He redefines the way men experience masculinity by uniquely blending primal elements of manhood with massive doses of consciousness.

In 2016, after suffering several personal losses in a short period, he created a radical social experiment and spent a year living as if it were his last. During his time, he volunteered as a hospice worker for the dying, spent 28 days in Guatemala in complete isolation and darkness, and spent a month living in the Utah wilderness with nothing but a knife, blanket, and water bottle to keep him company.

After publishing his book Today I Rise, the influx of feedback he received from other men compelled Traver to birth the seeds of his movement. Many told him his way of thinking and living was counterintuitive to how they’ve been conditioned to act as men. Now men globally have deemed themselves UNcivilized as they wake up to meditate, feel into their hearts, and train their bodies to fight, fuck, feed, and feel well.

Find out all this and more on the premiere episode of the Storytelling School podcast!

Links and Resources:

• Man UNcivilized
• The UNcivilized Podcast
• @traverboehm on Instagram
• Storytelling School
• @storytellingschool on Instagram

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