Storytelling

Most people can tell you what happened in their lives, but not why it happened or what they learned from their experiences. They can describe their job change. Their move to a new city. Their difficult season. Their promotion. Their failure. Their fresh start. But ask the deeper questions and you open a new and interesting porta: What is your story really about? It’s not about a new job, apartment, or the experience itself. That is the surface story. The good stuff lies bel

You may not think of yourself as a storyteller. You might not stand on stages. You might not write books. You might not describe yourself as creative. And yet, you tell stories every single day. When you explain a delay in a project, you are telling a story. When you answer an interview question about a challenge you overcame, you are telling a story. When you update your team on progress, you are telling a story. Storytelling is not reserved for authors or performers. It i

Whether you realize it or not, you are constantly telling the world who you are. I have recently interviewed a handful of candidates for internship opportunities at Super 78 Studios. The students I’ve interviewed have been bright, engaged, curious, and ambitious. And some of them have been memorable. Others, not so much. You’d never guess what made the memorable ones stick out, would you? Maybe because they did more than list experiences or hypothetical goals... It's bec

If you have ever told a story to a child, you know one thing immediately. You cannot fake it. Children have a remarkable ability to sense confusion, exaggeration, or boredom. If a story drifts, they drift. If it lacks emotion, they disconnect. If it goes on too long, they will let you know. In many ways, kids are the most honest audience we will ever have. And that is exactly why they make us better storytellers. Children demand clarity. They want to know who the story is abo

There is something powerful that happens when a woman chooses to tell her story clearly. For many women, leadership has not always started with a microphone. It has started with navigating expectations. Being collaborative before being recognized. Being capable before being credited. Over time, those experiences form stories. Stories about who we are allowed to be. Stories about how much space we are allowed to take up. Those stories follow us into meetings, interviews, prese

I’ve heard lots of people who believe that they only have a few “good” stories. Some big moment in their lives... the big breakup... the big accident... meeting their special person... Just because a moment you’re experiencing (or have experienced) wasn’t a turning point, breakthrough, or “moment that changed” everything does not mean it’s not worth exploring. Most of our lives do not unfold in dramatic scenes. But small moments are often where some of our most powerful

Most people think storytelling is about sharing something interesting, personal, or memorable. And sometimes, it is. But there is an important difference between telling a story and using storytelling. Understanding that difference can change how you communicate at work, at home, and in the moments that matter most. Telling a story is an expression. Using a story is intention. Let me tell you a story to illustrate! A Normal Night Out Midway through a monthlong sojourn throug

When people hear the word storytelling, they often picture writers, filmmakers, or speakers standing on a stage. It sounds creative. Optional. Even indulgent. But storytelling is not a creative luxury. It is a life skill. In fact, you already use storytelling skills every single day, whether you realize it or not. When you explain why you are late to a meeting, you are telling a story. When you convince a coworker to try a new approach, you are telling a story. When you help

Storytelling has never been just about being on stage for me. It is a way of seeing, connecting, and understanding the world around me. Over the years, I have had the chance to help thousands of people, from theater audiences to corporate teams, discover their voices and connect through the stories they carry. What I love most about storytelling is how personal it can be. I have taught crew members on cruise ships, coached leaders in boardrooms, and worked with students and e

I woke up in the hallway of the Waikiki Holiday Inn at 3 in the morning, completely naked. This is the start of a story I tell about sleepwalking out of my hotel room one night on vacation. It’s not just about what I did; it’s about who I am. The Layers of Storytelling Every story has two layers: what happened and what it’s really about. Most storytellers stop at the surface. They focus on events, actions, and outcomes. But if you want your story to resonate, you need to dig

My dad spent his career as a Pedodontist, treating children from infancy through early adulthood. Part of his job was to inspire and motivate the kids that were his patients. And part of his job (potentially a bigger part) was motivating and inspiring their parents to encourage good oral hygiene habits at home. In doing so, he discovered (and taught me) some important lessons. Including this: people won’t change until they come to the decision to change on their own. And ho

Ever feel stuck when given a storytelling prompt? You hear something like “out on a limb” and your mind immediately jumps to the obvious or literal ideas. Maybe you think of climbing a tree, taking a risky bet, or doing something crazy. The method I use to generate multiple story ideas from a single prompt is called “Exploding the Prompt.” Step 1: Start with the Obvious Begin by writing down the first few ideas that pop into your head, even if they seem boring, cliché, or “ba

Have you ever thought, “Who would want to hear my story?” Maybe you feel like your experiences are too ordinary, too small, or too messy to matter. I’m here to tell you something important: your story matters. Not someday, not maybe—it matters right now. Here’s the thing: every single person you meet is craving connection. They want to laugh, cry, learn, or just nod along thinking, “Yeah, me too.” And the amazing part? Your story could be the very thing that does that for som