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

If you’ve ever been in a leadership program, you know the feeling: hours of slides, exercises, and “best practices,” all designed to shape you into a better leader. But somehow, it often feels flat. Like something’s missing. That’s where storytelling comes in. I’ve seen it countless times. Teams struggling to connect, leaders who know what to say but can’t seem to reach their people. And then we introduce a storytelling workshop. Suddenly, something shifts. It’s not magic. It

AI is powerful. It can organize ideas, spot patterns, suggest structure, and help you move faster. What it cannot do is live your life. And because of that, it cannot tell your story. That is not a limitation to work around. It is a feature worth protecting. What AI Is Actually Good At Let’s start here. AI is very good at: Identifying patterns across thousands of stories Recommending frameworks that create clarity Helping you outline, refine, and edit Speeding up the mechanic

You’re not stuck because you “don’t have a story.” You’re stuck because you do have one. It’s already living in your head. It has weight. History. A thousand tiny decisions you made about it, and a thousand more you haven’t made. You’ve told it to friends. You’ve told it to yourself in the shower. You’ve told a version of it at 1:00 a.m. that made you think, “Oh my god. That’s it.” And then, somehow, the next morning, it’s back to feeling like a box of loose wires. This is th

In the latest episode of Monster Baby, I joined Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland to talk about my new book, A Story for Everything, beginning with a brief look back at my earlier work, Your Story Well Told, and how my understanding of that book has shifted over time. From there, we explore how everyday storytelling shows up in teaching, parenting, feedback, rituals, and the small moments that rarely feel story-worthy while they’re happening. I especially enjoyed reflecting on

Stories fail because the audience gets lost. Too much information too soon. No clear turning point. Events that feel disconnected instead of inevitable. What we end up with is not really a story. It is a collection of moments that never quite land. This is where structures can help. I don’t believe there’s a single way to tell a story. But I do believe that applying and considering structures can help any storyteller to refine and hone their own message while they determine

Storytelling isn’t just for writers or performers—it’s for anyone who wants to share their experiences in a way that connects with others. Often, the most memorable stories come from ordinary or even awkward moments in our lives. One of my favorite exercises to uncover these stories is a game called “That Reminds Me of the Time.” How the Game Works This is a fun exercise I play in my classes, often on the very first day. Participants pair up and take turns sharing small, cond

Storytelling is exciting. And intimidating! You want to entertain, connect with your audience, and communicate your message clearly. But most storytellers fall into the same avoidable traps that weaken their story and dilute their message. The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix! Here are the three most common mistakes most storytellers make, and how to avoid them so your stories are locked in. 1. Trying to Tell Every Detail Most storytellers seem to feel the need to

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

Powerful storytelling is all about crafting an experience for the listener, viewer, or guest. Whether you're speaking on stage, writing a message, or creating an immersive experience, a well-told story has the power to shift perspectives, move emotions, and influence action. But how do you transform a simple idea into a story that keeps people listening… and leaves them changed? Let’s walk the full path — from the spark of an idea to the standing ovation it inspires. 1. The S

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

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m realizing I remember far less about what I checked off and far more about what I felt. The quiet moments. The clunky ones. The days where nothing dramatic happened but something small shifted anyway. This year reminded me that growth doesn’t always arrive with fireworks or a LinkedIn announcement. Sometimes it shows up as a pause. A boundary. A deep breath taken five seconds sooner than last time. None of these lessons arrived fully formed. They

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

Last week, I sat in a small, warm Spanish restaurant in New York City with my parents, who are in their 80s, and my brothers, who are in their 40s and 50s. The table was covered in dishes of paella, two and a half empty pitchers of sangria, and the kind of laughter that only rises when a family has gathered after too much time apart. We told stories for hours. One story led to another, which led to another, spiraling outward like rings on water. What struck me most was not th

When I began working on A Story for Everything, I wanted to create a book that would meet people in the real moments where storytelling actually matters. Not just on a stage or in a performance setting, but in everyday life. As a longtime host of The Moth StorySlams and someone who has taught storytelling for years, I’ve seen how powerful personal stories can be. I’ve also seen how many people doubt they have anything worth sharing. Part of my mission with this book is to sho

Each autumn, thousands of investors in the Baron Capital fund file into one of the most iconic venues in America, New York City’s Lincoln Center, home to the Metropolitan Opera House. In its typical life, the space hosts Puccini and Bizet. But once a year, it becomes something else entirely: an investor gathering where the world’s most successful executives share their visions, their numbers, their strategies, and sometimes their missteps in front of a live audience. This yea

As both a parent of two teens, a teacher of improv, and a coach for students, executives, and storytellers of all ages, I often see young people wrestling with the question: Who am I becoming? Adolescence is a time when teens actively discover who they are, and one of the most powerful tools to support that discovery is personal storytelling for teens. Storytelling helps them reflect, express their inner world, and understand that their voice matters. A Real Story From My Hom

Storytelling is an art—but sharing your story on stage can feel terrifying. The nerves, the eyes watching, the pressure to deliver—it’s enough to make anyone stumble. The good news? Confidence doesn’t come from winging it. It comes from preparation, focus, and mastering the beginning and ending of your story. Start Strong: Nail Your Opening I ran into Mike Mahony the other day. He works at Pixar Animation Studios, and I met him after his brother Dave took my storytelling work

Storytelling in coaching isn’t about asking clients to “tell me about your past.” It’s about guiding them to hear their own stories differently. When someone puts their experience into words, they don’t just report what happened — they reinterpret it. They make meaning. They reclaim ownership. That’s why great coaches don’t just give strategies. They ask questions that unlock stories. Today, I’m sharing 10 transformational story-driven coaching questions you can use to help y

You know that feeling. Your heart speeds up. Your throat tightens. You open your mouth to speak—and suddenly your voice cracks, rushes, or disappears altogether. You know what you want to say. You’ve practiced it in your head a dozen times. But when the moment arrives—whether it’s a meeting, a story, an interview, or even a personal conversation—your body doesn’t cooperate. The good news? Speaking confidently isn’t about “being fearless.” It’s about knowing what to do you spe