It’s a Tuesday night. I’m teaching my Improv class and ask the students to tell me one reason why they came.

“I want to work on character voices tonight,” says one person. A few others in the room are here for that too.

“I want to work on being more physical tonight,” says another student who also has others echoing the same sentiment.

Then a third person pipes up with, “I want to escape.”

It’s so silent you can hear a pin drop. He goes on to say, “I’ve gotten some really tough news today and just want to leave the outside world behind. I just want to play. I just want to laugh.”

And so I tell him, “You’re in the right place. You have 100% permission to play.”

Sometimes, we just need a change in our story. We need to escape in order to create a different chapter or trajectory, and sometimes that results in something incredibly delicious (even beyond our wildest dreams).

Singer and songwriter Priska, my special guest today, has used music to not only change her story but also the lives of so many. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, she talks about the power of positive internal dialogue, why surface appearances don’t always tell the real story, storytelling through song as a sensitive person, and the transformative power of stories. She also answers questions like:

How can a traumatic experience actually open up your curiosity about yourself and the world and the stories you create from it? What needs to happen to make the resolution of a story worth it? And how important is it for people to hear diverse voices tell their stories?

• How isolation can have an effect on your ability to create stories
• How music can help you redefine your internal story
• Why the world needs to know the stories of your heritage

Priska is a Taiwanese-American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California who, despite her small stature, will draw you in with her big voice and intimate lyrics. She has performed and competed in various international showcases and singing competitions. In 2018, she released her debut EP State Change which features soaring vocals, lush instrumentation, and cinematic lyrics. A lifelong lover of feeling out songs with her heart, Priska will take you on an emotional journey that involves heartache, loss, and learning to carve your own path.

In August of 2020, she started the podcast Two Horny Goats with director and friend Roxy Shih, where the two chat about food, sexuality, and the damaging effects of Asian-American stereotypes.