In this extra special milestone episode, we give you micro soundbites to inspire even the most stuck storytellers, 99 quotes to leave you motivated and inspired, and some of Kymberlee’s most powerful tips and tricks of the trade.
How to Make Your Audience Sit Forward in Storytelling
In this power episode, we talk about the delight of curveballs, why intense emotions are great tools in your storytelling arsenal, and how our personal flaws can be great comedy material.
How to Explore the World of Possibility in Your Stories
In this possibility-expanding episode, we talk about how slaying monsters is not just for fiction, why it’s okay not to have all the answers, and how figuring out an ending sometimes means going back to the beginning.
How Stories Can Protect Us
In this safety-focused episode, we talk about the building blocks you need to improve your storytelling skills, how impactful storytelling can protect yourself and others, and why you may just want to keep some details of your personal story to yourself.
What It Means To Be Real In Your Storytelling
In this transformational episode, we talk about why you shouldn’t hide the truth of your story, how unexpected twists and turns in life can bring about wonderful stories, and why you should always focus on the details.
How the Art of Letting Go Can Strengthen Your Stories
In this magical episode, we talk about how being present adds beauty to your stories, why perfection is evil, and how transitions in life are necessary to keep your storytelling fresh.
How to Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling
In this special standalone episode, we discuss how one sentence of your story can change someone’s life, why it’s important now more than ever to speak up for what you believe, and how storytelling can uplevel any business.
Why Brevity is a Storytelling Superpower
In this riveting episode, we talk about how to write a picture, why storytelling and copywriting go hand in hand, and how leaving out details can actually improve your writing.
Bringing Your Ideas to Life Through Sound, Song and Stories
In this musically-powered episode, we talk about why storytelling is a collaborative conversation, how you can trigger memories with a single word or sound, and why connection is critical in songwriting and storytelling both.
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Getting Paid to Speak
In this episode of our “So You Think You Want To Become A Storyteller” series, we discuss why you should develop several signature Talks, how to turn one speaking gig into more opportunities, and why you should hone your content to lure your Ideal Client.
What The Ocean Can Teach Us About Storytelling
In this thought-provoking episode, we talk about why silence can speak volumes, how to develop trust with your audience, and why compelling stories are not always the most emotional ones.
Why Truth, POV and Risk are Vital in Storytelling
In this energetic episode, we talk about how to view rejection as a filter, why storytelling improves with age and experience, and how you need to be unapologetically passionate about what you love in order to live your best life.
Why Your Voice Can Make or Break a Story
In this especially auditory-focused episode, we talk about why simple storytelling is best, how you should always choose to be yourself even when you think you shouldn’t, and why truth and commitment are so important to delivering a story.
How Lenses, Lashes and Storytelling Intertwine
In this beauty-filled episode, we talk about celebrating what makes us unique, how striving for perfection sometimes has the opposite effect, and why we should let go of control once in a while.
Why Improv Can Make Your Storytelling Stronger
In this collaboration-focused episode, we talk about why saying “yes” can free up your imagination, how competition isn’t always a good thing, and why you should commit to being ridiculous.
Using Curiosity to Power Up Your Storytelling Game
In this curiosity-driven episode, we talk about why adults should give themselves permission to play, how storytelling can open the hearts of your audience, and why you should embrace the messy parts of life.
How Storytelling Can Make Opportunities Appear
In this character-creating episode, we talk about taking charge of your own success, how striving for perfection will stall your progress, and why you don’t have to like your characters.
Using the “Special Sauce” of Storytelling to Build Your Brand
In this data-driven episode, we talk about the importance of listening and responding, how stories can help us solve problems, and why the visual nature of stories are perfect for helping you connect with your target market.
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Powering Through Problems
As we continue our “So You Think You Want To Become A Storyteller” series, we talk about how practice doesn’t need to make perfect, why repetition may not be the best way to get your point across, and how vulnerable storytelling can benefit you and others.
How Your Choices Change the Story for the Animals
In this pet-centric episode, we talk about how animal intuition is real, what animals can teach us about humanity, and the importance of making contingency plans for your favorite furry friends.
Getting to the Heart of Your Audience Through Story
In this playful and audience-focused episode, we talk about the importance of empathizing with your characters, why storytelling is a noble and necessary profession in our society, and how connecting with just one audience member equals success.
Why You Can’t Lose With Storytelling
In this character and community episode, we talk about why embodying a character is important, how people-watching is a necessary storytelling skill, and why constantly learning means you can never lose.
How Category Design Can Change the Story of Your Business
In this brand-focused episode, we talk about why traditional marketing needs a makeover, how to walk the line between unconventional and mainstream, and how Category Design can revolutionize your business.
How to Change the Direction of the Story Being Told
In this mindset-shifting episode, we talk about why you should always choose to be bold, how to change the narrative if you don’t like what’s being said, and why stories are the “influencers” in our society.
How We Can Influence the Story to Enact Real-World Change
In this change-making episode, we talk about how a single voice really can make a difference, why an economic recovery post-pandemic relies on Arts & Culture, and how sometimes you need to step up and be your own hero.
How to Take Control of Your Own Story
In this optimistic episode, we talk about why you really shouldn’t worry about what others think of you, how to look on the bright side of any situation, and why it’s beneficial to embrace your every aspect.
How to Rethink Storytelling
In this mindset-altering episode, we talk about why you should strive for simplicity, how truth is better than fiction, and why you always need a payoff for your audience to keep them engaged.
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Applied Storytelling
In the continuation of our “So You Think You Want To Become A Storyteller” series, we discuss why every story can teach us a lesson, how even a good story can fall flat, and why storytelling is a gift to others.
How to Turn Unlikely Friendships Into Movie-Worthy Stories
In this bridge-building episode, we talk about how sharing our perspective can make others feel less alone, the difference between truth and facts, and how journaling can help you uncover story gems.
How Humorous Storytelling Connects Us
In this quick-witted episode, we talk about how comedy and escapism are good for your health, why comedy sometimes gets a bad rap, and how levity is necessary in even the most dramatic of scenarios.
How to Give Your Audience a Carnal Storytelling Experience
In this visceral episode, we talk about how to show and not tell in your writing, why you should make your character someone to root for, and how storytelling boosts empathy
How Harnessing Creativity Enhances Your Storytelling
In this insightful episode, we talk about how creativity is like a muscle, why you should always remain curious, and how knowing who you are can affect your storytelling ability.
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Stories In Business
Continuing our brand new series “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller…”, in this episode we focus on stories in business, including why an emotional connection builds trust, how to tell a story with purpose, and why you should experiment with your stories.
Why Storytelling Lessons Are More Accessible Than We Think
In this instructional episode, we talk about why you should be nice to your characters, how to get your audience to go along with you no matter the journey, and why you should be more ruthless in your editing.
How Stories Serve as the Source of Your Beliefs
In this motivational episode, we talk about how authentic stories can build relationships, why your vision of yourself may need a tune-up, and how to break down stories that no longer serve you.
How Characters and Stories Can Build Your Confidence
In this sizzling episode, we talk about why comedy should come from truth, how to find your confidence through your characters, and why you should choose to infuse joy into your performances.
Going Beyond the Words in Storytelling
In this vibrant episode, we talk about why you should always invest in yourself, how to bring your characters to life, and why looking back can actually slow you down.
How to Get Your Stories Past “Once Upon a Time…”
In this magical episode, we talk about what adults can learn from fairy tales, how children can be your best critics, and how playacting can help people process trauma.
How Stories Shape Us
In this cinematic episode, we talk about how your audience can amplify your stories, why it’s important to give new perspectives a chance, and how a single word can tell an entire story.
How Music Sets the Stage in Storytelling
In this melodious episode, we talk about how music can manipulate the human experience, why being open-minded is necessary for creativity, and how drawing from different perspectives can enhance your storytelling.
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Where to Start
In this brand new series, “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller…” we dive right into the fundamentals of storytelling and explore the importance of telling stories on purpose, how stories help you build trust fast, and why you should always have a story ready to tell.
How Your Voice Can Tell Different Stories
In this lively episode, we talk about the importance of humanizing your characters, how a sense of play and exploration can take your stories to a whole new level, and why representation and diversity should matter to everyone.
How Your Authentic Story Can Boost Your Business
In this dynamic episode, we talk about how a love of disco can tie into business success, how to discover your right audience, and why the simple act of liking yourself can boost your sales.
How Multiple Roles Enhance Your Life Story
In this confidence-boosting episode, we talk about why you should always strive to be authentic, how to respond to people who try to put limitations on you, and why the act of being in service to others can make the impossible possible.
How to Infuse Story Into Your Work
In this educational episode, we discuss how bartenders hear the best stories, why oral traditions and food go hand in hand, and how it’s possible to infuse a story into a cocktail.
Finding Your Way Into The Story
In this insightful episode, we talk about why you should strive for conflict, how heightened storytelling is sometimes the most truthful, and why you should never take yourself too seriously.
How to Go Beyond the Story
In this tenet-filled episode, we talk about why the future belongs to the creative communicators, how nothing happens without an impending event, and why you should always leave it all onstage.
Bringing Impactful Black Stories to Broadway and Beyond
In this wisdom-filled episode, we talk about why you need to resonate with a story in order to execute it properly, how your viewpoint can give new life to old ideas, and why you need to be your own biggest fan.
The Role of Story in Artistic Mediums
In this emotionally raw episode, we talk about storytelling as escapism, the trinity of struggle, failure, and success, and how making yourself a character in your own life’s story can change everything.
Exploring Improv’s Impact on Your Storytelling
In this fun-filled episode, we spill a secret tip on how to get over stage fright, share why embracing imperfection makes you a more engaging storyteller and reveal how playing can help boost your sales.
Examining Pixar’s Storytelling Machine
In this episode we reveal what three genres are in every Pixar film, why your theme needs a powerful counter-theme, and how your insecurities can be a powerful storytelling tool.
Where Stories, Advertising and Creativity Converge
My guest Arthur Vibert and I get real with how storytelling influences advertising, why we must emotionally connect with our audiences and where creativity is essential.
Finding vs Creating in Storytelling
Join Stefan G. Bucher and I as we explore a unique way to overcome resistance, why different viewpoints are based on the same reality, and how you are your best audience
The Cost of Not Telling Your Story
Our eye-opening episode takes us from front lines to front steps, using stories to bridge human connection, listen with intent and influence others to action.
Telling Stories in Service to Others
In this heart-racing episode, we talk about the importance of taking risks through storytelling, and why you should tell stories in service to your audience instead of yourself.
Why Lessons Live On Through Story: A Grandmaster’s Perspective
Grandmaster Dave 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.
Telling Stories Through a Different Lens
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.
How Stories Stand Up in a Courtroom
This week the infamous “Steve from Baltimore” and I will explore storytelling from the lens of influence and intention, in the courtroom and beyond.
Why Your Mindset Matters in Storytelling and Speaking
In this special episode, I talk about one of my favorite topics of all time. You’ll hear seven bite-sized approaches to managing your own mindset so that you can up-level your speaking and storytelling game in a significant way.
How to Tell An Effective Story With Your Website
People are like, ‘Oh, I looked at my competitors’ sites, and my website needs to be better than theirs.’ No, it really doesn’t. Your website just needs to tell a better STORY than theirs does.
How a Tragic Story Can Become a Superpower
My incredible guest today on the Storytelling School Podcast, José Rolón, experienced an inciting incident of colossal proportion… in real life.
How Music, Comedy and Storytelling Intertwine
Jeff Babko certainly has plenty of stories to share about his musical career and travels, working with other musicians the world over and collaborating with comedians like Steve Martin and Martin Short.
How Story Helps You Step Into Your Vulnerability
In this episode, Chloe talks about living with her deformity and using her story to promote healing within herself and others.
The Real Story of Our Youth, Incarcerated
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.
How to Produce Stories that Land
Wendy Miller knows a thing or two about TV and jingles and even parodies because she’s written hundreds of them. 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.
Using Productivity to Press Publish on a Better Life Story
In this episode, Mike Williams shares how a date night spawned a heartbreaking realization that initiated his productivity journey.
How Story Helps You Think Like a Billionaire
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.
How Stories Play Out in the Subconscious Mind
What if you have a personal story that’s hard to tell others? My guest today Brandy Gillmore has personal experience with this.
How Story Can Directly Enhance Your Business Success
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.
How Story Affects Your Leadership
Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret, speaker, leadership expert, and coach who runs Crucible wilderness expeditions for executives and veterans around the world.
How to Bring Fanciful Stories to Fruition
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?
Why Stories Amplify Impact
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.
How to Create the Story You Want to Be Told
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
How Enchanting Stories Can Reshape Your Reality
Dr. Witt is a licensed psychologist, teacher, author, and story practitioner who lives and breathes in story every day of his life.
How to Heighten Your Storytelling Skills
Jennifer Bascom 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.
How Story Merges AI with Humanity
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.
How These Six Tactics Will Make You A Better Storyteller
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.
Why Storytelling is Vital to Financial Planning
My guest Arwen Becker has a gift of making it come to life by looking at it from different perspectives. 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.
Why DIY PR Can Give Your Stories Traction
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.
How Telling Hard Stories Can Create Unity
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.
How Storytelling Will Grow Your Business on Instagram
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.
The Competitive Advantage of Stories
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.
The Convergence of Story and Human Behavior
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.
Why Storytelling Is Good For Your Career
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.
The Story Inside Risk
During our interview which is packed with actionable advice, Victoria reveals the impact that stories and storytelling have had on her career.
Stories Behind the Badge
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.
How Storytelling Is Battling Human Trafficking
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.
How Improv Can Amplify Your Story
In this episode, John 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.
Exploring the Voice of Storytelling
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.
Client Confidential: Answering the Tough Questions
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.
Examining NLP’s Role in Your Storytelling
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.
How Transformational Acting Can Provoke Your Storytelling
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.
What Stories Teach Us About Possibility
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?
Why Morals, Repetition and Perfectionism Influence Your Storytelling
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.
How Generational Storytelling Impacts Culture
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?
Why Being Yourself Makes for Great Stories
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.
How Characters and Improv Can Influence Storytelling
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.
How Stories Grow a Movement
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?