In this episode of the StoryMaven Podcast, Michael James Scott, the Broadway star and beloved Genie in the Broadway production of Disney's Aladdin reminded me who I am, and to be unapologetically me. He has boiled his brand story down to one word: Fierce. He tells us what it means to be Fierce and how you can be unapologetically you too.

In this episode of the StoryMaven Podcast, Stasha Boyd, teaches us how tell a true story by creating an emotional goal AND how to handle all the different stakeholders.

Stasha is the producer and creator of audio tours for museums, national parks like Mt. Rushmore and attractions like Kennedy Space Center. She knows a thing or two about making facts a story and meeting the multiple needs of her clients who are often a committee. Her techniques for telling a story from true facts will equip you to turn info copy into story.

Shalisa James is an award-winning vocalist, a member of Toxic Audio and the owner of a business, Entertainment Central that provides singers and entertainment to markets, cruise ships and events around the world. That’s what hits me right in my heart — an artist who built a business that serves a n audience and employs other great artists. The commitment it takes to be an entrepreneur and get it all done, while maintaining your own voice blows me away. I know so many of you are doing that right now. I want you to hear Shalisa’s message, because you deserve to be reminded that your voice counts. Your voice matters. Your vision and the business you built matters.

Mark Daniel has a tool box and wow, the tools he has to share will make all of us better storytellers! He’s the host of The Telly Award Winner "inside Disney Parks", along with The Disney Parks Blog LIVE Streams. He’s also the current Warm Up and Panel Host for Star Wars Celebration USA & Europe, New York Comic Con, Playlist Live, C2E2. And is the warm up host for the  The Daytime-Emmy-Winning Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration on ABC television.

In this episode we talk about his work as a warm-up host for celebrities like Sting, Harrison Ford and Disney’s Descendants. Mark and I worked together for many years and we share the same approach to telling your story — you need a tool box filled with great tools.  Because every audience is different, every moment is different and each moment requires you to adapt. Mark opens up our shared toolbox and even gives me a few new tools for mine.  So be sure to stick around for my Storymaven Takeaways after the interview! Now here’s my conversation with my friend Mark Daniel.

Trying to launch a new business is hard. Especially when you have to do ALL the things. For Mike & Julie of Kid Save the World, that meant writing, composing & creating the music, doing the voices, singing, editing, producing and doing all the marketing for their new podcast ‘The Super Secret Hive’. Seems to have paid off! They were featured in the NY Times this month. In this week’s StoryMaven podcast we talk process, perspective and trying before you evaluate.

If This Week Has You Feeling Stuck…Don’t fret. We are all on a hero’s journey. One of my best gal pals Clare Sera joins me to talk about our own journey’s, finding our 'Page 60' or where we consistently get stuck, and moving past it.  Clare is a screenwriter living and working in Los Angeles. Her big name films include Smallfoot — the Warner Brothers animated film about a A Yeti who is convinced that the elusive creatures known as "humans" really do exist. And yes she spent most of 2017 trapped in a sound booth with Channing Tatum. She also wrote Blended, a romantic comedy which starred Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler.  We've been friends for many years and one of our favorite activities is Porch Time. We’ve spent many hours on porches across the country with a glass of wine or mug of tea talking about our lives, our art and our craft. In this virtual porch time we get into moving past blocks, how we schedule creative time and more.

If you are walking through a hard time and wonder if you’ll ever be able to tell the story, you need to meet Dr. LaVon Wright Bracy, author of "A Brave Little Cookie". Not only does she share her compelling story of desegregating Gainesville High School in 1964, she tells us the process of writing a children’s book about her experience some 50 years later. Most of us are struggling through the challenges of 2020. Bracy has been there, seen it, lived it and wrote the story. For those of us that need to be encouraged to keep going, she’s got you. For those that need the spark to tell your own story, pick up a pen. You’re about to be motivated.

We all want people to connect to our stories.  That means that our story has to be relatable.  We need to hit the sweet spot of what our audience wants and needs and what we have to offer.  In this episode, host Alice Fairfax shares her story telling mantra to help listeners craft stories that connect. 

StoryMaven podcast is designed for busy entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. Are you are running the business while being the spokesperson—coming up with social posts and trying to craft and deliver a great speech? In interviews with expert storytellers, host Alice Fairfax gets the secrets to telling a great story, from a Tweet to a TED Talk. From her days as an improvisational storyteller at Walt Disney World, Alice created over 50 essential story tools and in this podcast covers the best ways to Tell Your Story.