Storytelling School – Details, episodes & analysis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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