Storytelling School

I’m sitting in a restaurant with a revolutionary idea scribbled on the back of a napkin. It’s the early 2000s and I’m still in the technology industry at this point, so we’re coming up with ideas for this crazy software application we want to create.

It’s never been done before and feels like it could change everything! We’re talking about a ColdFusion back end, a Flash front end, throwing data back and forth very quickly... it’d be the first time you could have a Rich Internet Application. {Fancy stuff back then.}

As we’re sitting there brainstorming my new friend Mark says, “Hang on, can we really do this? No one’s actually executed something like this.” Two seconds later, we find ourselves thinking, “Why not us? Why don’t we be the ones to do it?”

That software idea we brought to life launched a company that lasted for 16 years! And my special guest on the Storytelling School Podcast, Douglas Lyons, is all about bringing ideas that no one else has thought of to life in different forms.

What is the thought process behind birthing an idea that didn’t exist before? What is the only original thing about ideas? And what the hell do mosquito bites have to do with storytelling?

In this episode, I speak with Douglas about all of that, being successful without the usual “bells and whistles” of training, normalizing and giving representation to Black culture on Broadway, and more. You’ll hear his words of wisdom if you feel like your voice and perspective don’t matter. And you’ll discover how to know which stories to stick with and the power of figuring out your “why” for creating a story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What principles to keep in mind as you create a story
• Why naming your characters is so important
• How your stories can heal, affect change, and live on long after you’re gone

Who is Douglas?

Douglas Lyons is a director, actor, writer, playwright, and composer-lyricist. He’s one of the writers and composers of Apple TV’s 2022 Fraggle Rock series and made his playwriting debut with Chicken and Biscuits, which starred Michael Urie and Norm Lewis. His other writing credits include Polkadots at the Atlantic Theater Company, Beau at the Adirondack Theatre Festival, and Five Points with Hamilton’s Andy Blankenbuehler.

As an actor, Douglas was part of the original cast of the Broadway production The Book of Mormon and Beautiful. He also did tours of Rent and Dreamgirls. His music and lyrics have been featured on CBS’s Sunday Morning Show and BET Plus, as well as in Lincoln Center’s Broadway Songbook Series and Carnegie Hall’s Voices of Hope Festival. And along with his musical writing partner Ethan D. Pakchar, he was a finalist for the 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant.

• @Chocolatehipster on Instagram
• @DouglasSings on Twitter
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

As I’m growing up, my Grandmother, Moo, tells me stories of her life growing up in New York. She talks about the museums, Central Park, and plays on Broadway.

She says to me, “Someday, you’ll be able to see your first play on Broadway, and you’ll never forget it.” Yet I’m sitting there thinking, “That’s nice, Moo, but I’m an athlete. Sports is my thing.”

Plus, I’m not really interested in theater... until after college when I find myself in New York watching a Broadway play for the first time.

And you know what? Moo was right! It was everything she said it was going to be and more. The lights. The stage. The music. All of it was an absolute delight.

You never forget your first play on Broadway. The story of that first play and every play I’ve seen since has stuck with me and has earned a permanent place in my memory bank.

My guest Ryan Bauer-Walsh knows a thing or two about stories on and off stage. As an actor, singer, and artist, he creates stories as part of his life’s work.

In this episode, we talk about a love for bringing stories to life through various artistic mediums, using times of chaos to experience greater growth and creativity, tastefully telling someone else’s story through art, and how comforting memories of a mom led to the first lullaby album for the LGBTQ+ community.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the art of storytelling can be an escape in many ways
• How to create a story through art from a blank canvas
• What a story must already have in order to be great

Who is Ryan?

Born in Minnesota, Ryan Bauer-Walsh is a writer, actor, composer, colorblind artist, and community activist based in New York. As an artist, he started with murals at age 12 and works in watercolor and acrylic. His pieces can be found in private collections across the country and have been featured in Neon Days, American Morning, The New York Times, The Coterie Opera, and the New York City Opera. In addition to large-scale art, he’s the illustrator of several books.

Ryan has also performed on stage and screen in shows like Les Misérables, Billy Elliot, Miss Saigon, and The Deuce on HBO. He sang the U.S. national anthem at the Chicago White Sox’s ballpark and in front of 50,000 people at the internationally-televised Chicago Marathon. Currently, he’s producing the world’s first LGBTQ+ lullaby album and a gender-neutral clothing line.

Links and Resources:

• Ryan Bauer-Walsh
• @ryan.bauer.walsh on Instagram
• @rbwart on Instagram
• Ryan’s clothing line: tinpin
• The Rainbow Lullaby
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

It’s time to throw the confetti! We’ve reached a milestone today! This episode marks our 50th show of Storytelling School and in honor of it, I’m doing something special for you.

People often ask me, “Kymberlee, how do you extract lessons from your stories?” It’s a crucial part of storytelling, so I’ve got you covered.

In today’s show, you’ll hear about seven different stories that each have their own lesson and can be put to use immediately. Every one of these tactical changes can transform your storytelling and YOU!

What do you do when something unexpected happens? What lies in store for you and your audience when you do something surprising? What can you do to stick in people’s minds and affect change in their lives? Who should you compare yourself to? When’s the right time for you to take calculated risks?

Listen in as I cover the above questions and more with stories of blindfolds, martial arts tests, rat traps, Hello Kitties, and then some!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to incorporate the unexpected into your work
• How to make your own opportunities
• How to make an audience remember you forever

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 300 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 teaching 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 affect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.

Links and Resources:

• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

My team’s about to hit the stage for our first improv show as a troupe. We’re backstage and talking amongst ourselves about everything we’re going to do to make this performance incredible.

My teammates Mike, Mark, and I each recite an improv rule that we plan to focus on during the show. Once we are finished declaring our steadfast following of a particular rule, we look over at our fellow troupe member Chris who hasn’t weighed in yet. He announces, “Let’s just have fun.”

At that moment, I realize, “Oh, of course!” Here we are putting all these rules in place and concentrating on things we need to do... or not do. And then Chris gives us the permission in that moment to let all of that go and just play.

Yes, and...

Chris Shurland has a knack for always following the fun, and I’ve invited him onto the show today to remind us all how we can do the same.

In this episode, he and I talk about what improv really is and how it helps you as a storyteller (or, surprise, a salesperson). We also discuss being you and being real in your storytelling or performance, getting over nerves and stage fright, and the importance of keeping your audience interested throughout the story.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What it means to take on a character that is you but not you
• How to “heighten” your storytelling, even when the story is true
• Why embracing imperfection makes you a more engaging storyteller

Who is Chris?

Currently based in Santa Barbara, Chris Shurland is a Chicago-trained improv teacher and performer and the founder of Irreverent Improv. After completing his training at various institutions, he performed on several teams in Chicago and California. Some of those groups went on tour to perform in festivals and at theaters.

Nowadays, Chris serves as the Associate Artistic Director for American Improv Theatre in San Jose. He directs shows, coaches teams, teaches classes, and acts as a producer of the San Jose Improv Festival. When not teaching workshops, he performs on house teams in the Bay Area and Southern California and tours with improv groups in San Jose, Santa Barbara, or Chicago.

Links and Resources:

• Irreverent Improv
• Carpinteria Improv at the Alcazar
• @americanimprovtheatre on Facebook
• Santa Barbara Improv
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m in a movie theater watching the opening to Pixar’s Up. All of a sudden, I can feel the tears welling in my eyes.

I try to keep it together because I’m in a public place and can’t start crying now! And this is an animated movie, so why am I even about to start bawling my eyes out?!

But then I realize, “Hang on. This isn’t just an animated film. It’s great storytelling!” I’m actually feeling the emotions the characters are going through.

Pixar films know how to raise the emotional stakes with their beautiful, powerful, and (at times) heartbreaking messages. And today, I’m excited to have as my special guest the guy who literally wrote the book on great Pixar movie storytelling, Dean Movshovitz.

In this episode, we discuss elements of meaningful storytelling with lots of examples from Pixar’s popular films. You’ll discover the three different genres within every Pixar film, hear how to bring a kernel of a story to life, connect with characters through the vulnerable and idealized side of your personality, and emphasize the effect of your story on the world (whether it’s real or fictional).

What you will learn in this episode:

• What two elements you must include in your story
• How to bring out the uniqueness within your story
• How to write a great ending for your lead character

Who is Dean?

Born in Israel, Dean Movshovitz is a speaker, screenwriter, and author of the #1 Amazon bestseller, Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films. At age 14, a film class introduced him to The Manchurian Candidate and The Graduate. He’s been hooked on film ever since and finds the way movies and TV create stories and how viewers experience those stories to be endlessly fascinating.

Dean served in the IDF for five years, then earned his Screenwriting Bachelor’s degree at Tel Aviv University. He also graduated from Serial Eyes, Europe’s premier post-graduate training program for TV writers and producers. His work includes TV projects for Cineteve, UFA, and Blackpills. He currently lives in Los Angeles and also works as a freelance script consultant.

Links and Resources:

• Dean Movshovitz
• Pixar Storytelling by Dean Movshovitz
• @mdean317 on Twitter
• @Deanm317 on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Years ago, I’m running my software company and gaining some big advertising agencies as clients. 

I think, “All right, I need to learn this industry.” And hey, what better place to start than watching Mad Men? I’m hearing so much about it, so surely it should teach me how the industry works, right?

I start watching the show to understand the mindset of an advertising professional. And what do I learn? 

Yes, some of those themes on the show are actually spot-on, but being an award-winning creative in the advertising world doesn’t come easy. 

I have a ton of respect for those who can come up with such original and memorable content including my special guest today, Arthur Vibert, who not only has won numerous awards, he also knows how to tell a good story!

Why do you bond with the businesses you love? What mistakes can you make when you start incorporating stories into your business advertising? How do the stories you hear and tell yourself and others as you age influence how you continue to live life in your twilight years? Arthur and I get into that and so much more on today’s show!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How storytelling influences advertising success
• How to develop a “natural” storytelling ability
• How ageism plays into storytelling

Who is Arthur?

Throughout his rich and varied career, Arthur Vibert has had the pleasure of working in the advertising industry in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and London. He co-created the Max Headroom campaign for Coca-Cola, the Saturn “Launch” campaign for the Saturn car’s introduction, and has worked with BMW, Levi’s, and many more. In addition, his work in video production includes collaborations with the likes of Mozilla and Apple.

Currently working as a commercial director and video producer, Arthur more recently has added writing and coaching (and soon, podcasting) to his repertoire. And for the past few years, he has helped creative people aged 40 and up deal with the realities of aging in a culture ill-equipped to understand what to do with them. You can find and follow him on his website and on LinkedIn.

Links and Resources:

• Arthur Vibert
• @arthurvibert on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

“You have to see this.” That’s the message I see alongside a link sent to me by a friend. “Umm… I’m kind of busy, you know? I’m in the middle of things, working and I don’t have time for links.” I fire back. He insists, “No, you really need to see this.”

So I open up the link and see... an inkblot. An inkblot?!? Big deal! Then he tells me to play the video, and I do. I find myself completely enthralled as this inkblot suddenly becomes a creature that turns into an adorable monster. Oh, and the artist creating it is drawing it upside-down and backward!

From white pages to inkblots to monsters, this art comes to life before my eyes. And each monster clearly has its own story behind it. I have to know who the artist is. I want to talk to him and find out everything I can because anyone with the talent to turn inkblots into monsters has won me over.

How do you organically create something from nothing like that? Find out in this episode as I sit down with that incredible artist, Stefan G. Bucher. We discuss why starting your story in the middle helps you overcome resistance and why doing things for yourself without an audience might be the better way for you to go.

You’ll also hear about the role of storytelling in highlighting the common experience, how you can do things to feel less alone in the world, and Stefan’s incredibly amusing technique to help you uplevel your storytelling game.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why your task is to find something, not create something
• Why connection is such an essential part of great storytelling
• How different mediums can unlock new ways to approach storytelling

Who is Stefan?

Stefan G. Bucher is a writer, graphic designer, illustrator, and all-around bookaholic. Born in Germany, he came to California and studied at the Art Center College of Design. His first introduction to book design happened as a child when he poured over the catalogs of the Wilhelm Busch Museum in Hannover. That early access began a lifelong journey to design and produce books in the same delightful and fascinating fashion that those early catalogs did for him.

Stefan has received rewards, features, and recognition from design books and magazines and prestigious institutions in the literary world. He won the Yellow Pencil Award for Book Design from British Design and the Art Direction and the Art Directors Club of New York. Numerous book design exhibitions have featured his work such as those hosted by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

Stefan’s most popular work, however, is the online animation series Daily Monster where he filmed himself drawing a new monster from random inkblots for 100 days. This series has enjoyed millions of views and downloads and inclusion in the Communication Arts Illustration and American Illustration annuals, and even new life in book form. In addition, he has worked with a wide range of entertainment, advertising, educational, and institutional clients and collaborated on projects with big names like Sting, director Tarsem, and The New York Times.

• 344 Books
• @344books on LinkedIn
• @stefangbucher on YouTube
• 100 Days of Monster by Stefan G. Bucher
• Stefan's Skillshare Class
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m sitting in the audience in Tampa, Florida as a play has just ended. 

As a civilian not being part of the military, I am speechless reflecting on what I’ve just seen.

Although my Grandpa Joe and Uncle Jack were in the U.S. military many years ago, they never talked about their experiences being enlisted during wartime. They have never shared their stories with me.

And this play has revealed the collateral costs of war... costs I never knew existed. 

From the emotional damage to the physical damage to the permanent pain, this play has evoked every emotion possible in me.

In that moment, still sitting in my seat, I know both civilians and military members, the country over, need to see what I’ve just seen on stage - but how?

Find out what happened next and what the true costs of not telling your story are, on this week’s Storytelling School Podcast.

My special guest this week and dear friend Retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann is the creator of and lead actor in the play I witnessed, Last Out.

We talk about how he went from being a Green Beret to writing a play (it’s not what you think) and so many other areas, exploring questions such as:

How do you teach hard-learned lessons from a never-ending war to American civilians oblivious to it all? How did Operation Pineapple (a remote mission during the recent collapse in Afghanistan) produce high-stakes storytelling that changed an outcome in real-time? And how can you influence others who are reluctant to take action? 

Tune into this interview as we discuss these topics and more!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How war stories can help us heal
• What people get wrong about storytelling
• Why storytelling is a much-needed “soft skill”

Who is Scott?

Retired Lt. Col Scott Mann is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and leadership coach. During his military service, 18 years of which he spent as a U.S. Green Beret, he specialized in unconventional, high-impact missions. He restored trust, created human connections, and solved problems that helped people worldwide stand up for themselves, even in places like Afghanistan and Iraq where it seemed impossible.

Thanks to his military experience, Scott’s taken his mastery of relationship-building to high-stakes, competitive environments like corporate boardrooms and conference rooms where trusted leadership is more valuable (and vulnerable) than ever. There, he helps organizations gain a better understanding of their internal culture and exposes areas of potential conflict where trust has deteriorated.

Nowadays, you can often find the retired Lt. Col making appearances on various news and syndicated radio channels such as CNN, Fox Business News, National Public Radio, and Wall Street Journal Radio. He’s also written op-eds that have appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Washington Post, and Small Wars Journal.

Links and Resources:

• Rooftop Leadership
• The Heroes Journey
• Last Out: A Voice Never Heard
• @rooftop_leadership on Instagram
• @RooftopLeader on Twitter
• @RooftopLeadership on Facebook
• Rooftop Leadership on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m backstage at a TEDx event when our Stage Manager Phil asks me, “Where’s Sam?” 

I’m thinking, “Oh no. Where is Sam? I haven’t seen him lately… and he’s our next speaker!”

I open the stage door to the outside and I see him standing there with a concerned look on his face.

Seeing nervous speakers comes with the territory, yet the look on Sam’s face is different. 

Sam tells me he’s just received notification that a group of people in Syria has gathered together to watch his TEDx Talk live streamed. And they want him to highlight exactly what is happening in their country at this very moment: they are under threat of being bombed at any time. Plus the fact that they have gathered in a group makes them a higher probability target and even more vulnerable.

I ask Sam if he wants to give this Talk at all now, given the added pressure and responsibility. We’ve been working on it for months, and at this point he knows every word, every line, every pause in it. Everything is ready to go, and at the same time the stakes cannot be higher...

What happens next?

Join us this week on the Storytelling School Podcast and we’ll share exactly that and so much more. Sam Kadi is my special guest this week. In addition to reflecting on this harrowing and unexpected story, he and I cover a lot of ground in our exciting interview. We talk about taking risks through storytelling, telling stories in service to your audience instead of yourself, making stories and characters more interesting, and the art of short-form storytelling.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why interesting characterization is the most important storytelling element
• How to make yourself (or someone else) more interesting in non-fictional stories
• How to approach the art of short-form storytelling

Who is Sam?

Based in Santa Barbara, Sam Kadi is a writer, director, producer, TEDx speaker, founder of Sam K Production, and a member of the Directors Guild of America where he serves on the Guild Asian American committee. His award-winning, critically acclaimed feature drama The Citizen starring Cary Elwes received numerous awards on the international festival circuit before its theatrical release. His recent documentary Little Gandhi was an official selection for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2017 Academy Awards. He was even invited to screen it and speak before members of the Canadian Parliament, U.S. Congress, United Nations, and Amnesty International.

Sam has received recognition for raising awareness of human rights issues through his work as well, from the Cinema for Peace organization and the Life for Relief and Development Organization which presented him with a Humanitarian Service Award in 2014. In addition, Steven Spielberg’s SHOAH Foundation chose him as a Spotlight Juror, and he’s a jury member for multiple film festivals such as the European Independent Film Festival in Paris. 

Links and Resources:

• Sam Kadi
• Unmuting millions of voices one story at a time | Sam Kadi TEDx speech
• @skadi74 on Instagram
• @samkpro on Twitter
• Sam on Facebook
• Sam on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m a sophomore at the University of Hawaii attending normal classes by day and the American College of Sports Medicine certification classes by night. In one of the night classes, I meet this guy named Dave.

He tells me he owns a dojo in town and invites me to try a workout.

I explain that hey, I’m a Softball Pitcher and have been since I was a little girl. I have no interest in those Martial Arts. Plus, I’ve earned a full-ride scholarship based on my softball prowess, so softball’s my thing.

Yet, every time I see him, Dave keeps inviting me and continues to insist I take a class at his dojo. He’s relentless. Week after week, month after month - the invites turn to challenges and the challenges turn to dares.

One night I have had enough and I make him a deal: I will take his class just once. In return, he will not bug me about it ever again.

I took his class in 1991 and Martial Arts has been a mainstay in my life ever since.

30 years later, I am returning the favor and I’ve invited… er… challenged/dared Dave Wheaton, now aka the Grandmaster, to come on the Storytelling School Podcast, and here he is! 

In our episode, we explore storytelling through the perspective of teaching and training.  He and I talk about best practices for approaching your chosen profession, developing storytelling skills even when it doesn’t come naturally, and life lessons you can learn from Martial Arts. Plus we look at humor in stories and how important stories are to our legacy.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why it’s essential to study the greats in your field
• How to gain mastery at whatever you do
• How martial arts apply to life and storytelling

Who is Dave?

Dave Wheaton is an instructor, mentor, coach, and Martial Arts Grandmaster who’s taught and trained thousands of students nationwide for over 50 years. His credentials include a 9th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, an 8th Dan in Taekwondo, and a Golden Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Karate Union Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Dave is the founder and president of Hapkido International. He developed a self-defense system based on Hapkido that combines several Martial Arts techniques with an emphasis on flowing seamlessly between movements. With it, the student can respond intuitively with the necessary amount of force, regardless of size or age.

Now, Grandmaster Dave teaches private hapkido and kickboxing lessons both in person and via Zoom for students all over the world. His other interests include garage winemaking, Paleo cooking, and serving as an FAA Certified Gold Seal Flight instructor. For more in-depth information on his story and martial arts lineage, visit https://santabarbaradojo.com/grandmaster.

Links and Resources:

• Grandmaster Dave Wheaton
• @Grandmaster on Instagram
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook