Storytelling School

I’m sipping on my matcha almond latte at a local coffee house while enjoying the company of my dear friend Alan. Our first time in person together in over a year, we are laughing hysterically and recounting stand-out events of the past many months. 

During our conversation, he mentions to me that he’s listened to every episode of this podcast. {Awww thank you, Alan!} He loves the interesting perspectives and insights the guests have had on the power of story. He shares he’s “in” and that he’s “a believer” in the strength of stories...and now he’s anxious to learn the “how” of storytelling. 

I realized he’s right. If Alan is craving the “how”, then he’s probably not the only one. A lot of you are too. So I’m shaking up the plan and mixing things up in this episode. 

This episode reveals critical tactics on how to tell stories, so grab your pen and a notebook!

You’ll hear a series of six, fast-action, bite-sized storytelling tactics you’ll be able to immediately put to use. I’ll cover storytelling structure, gathering story ideas, conflict within storytelling, when and where to use stories, mistaken beliefs about telling stories, and bringing your story to life. Every single one on its own is something you can take action on and build your storytelling muscles.

Here’s just a taste of what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to avoid pitfalls in storytelling
• When to use a story and when not to
• How to nail The Hero’s Journey story structure

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 and 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

So many think the world of finances and financial planning can feel too dull, too heavy, or too unnecessary. My guest Arwen Becker has a gift of making it come to life by looking at it from different perspectives. She went from playing Division 1 collegiate volleyball to becoming a Zoology graduate to changing the story around financial planning and making it sexy through her use of story and emotional connection.

Has her industry left women out of the conversation too often? In this episode, Arwen tells us why finances don’t have to be boring and shares how she learned the necessity of financial planning for yourself the hard way. We also talk about why women struggle with spending money in retirement and have different learning and nurturing styles than men that need to be considered.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How stories affect your financial future
• If the long game really benefits your finances
• Why relying on your own discipline doesn’t work

Who is Arwen?

Arwen Becker has always shown perseverance and given her best effort. Despite her short stature, she played Division 1 volleyball in college. Just a few short months after getting attacked by a cougar, she became a divorcée at age 24. With the end of her marriage, she sought a higher-paying job and after landing a position at a newly launched retirement firm, her career in financial planning took off.

Over the years, Arwen has met thousands of women and realized there needed to be a focus on changing how women get treated within the financial industry. She created her training program in response, LIFE with Arwen. Through LIFE (Leaders Inspiring Female/Financial Empowerment), she helps financial advisors get a better handle on understanding how women learn differently, connecting through storytelling, and thriving with participation in women’s events. Her organization also gives advisors the needed tools to succeed in their practice and brings national awareness to the issue of women’s financial empowerment.

Arwen has been co-owner of Becker Retirement Group with her husband Randy for over two decades. She’s a national speaker, author, and podcast host and contributes to TD Ameritrade Network, Yahoo Finance, and many other publications.

Links and Resources:

• LIFE with Arwen
• Becker Retirement Group
• Follow Arwen on Instagram @arwenbecker
• Follow Arwen on Twitter @lifewitharwen
• Follow Arwen on Facebook @lifewitharwen
• Follow Arwen on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

When you think of how businesses tell their stories via public relations and get picked up by top tier publications, you probably think of these huge organizations with tons of money spent every month--we’re talking $10,000, $20,000, and more--to get people noticed and in the spotlight. My guest today, Gloria Chou, doesn’t have a background in public relations. Yet PR is her life’s work, and she does have a very unique take on the industry.

Is it possible for early stage businesses to DIY when it comes to PR? How can those who fear rejection approach reaching out to journalists? Why do PR features speed up client and customer acquisition?

In this episode, you’ll hear Gloria’s rebuttal to the idea of public relations as nice to have but not needed in telling the story of your business, why some choose to advertise over acquiring PR skills, and why early-stage businesses should forgo holding out for specific publications and be open to all. We also talk about Gloria’s CPR Pitching Method™ as well as a couple of hacks to bring your stories to life and make your public relations pitches even better.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What big PR mistakes early stage entrepreneurs make
• What 3 things your pitches must have to get a response
• How to get connected and find journalists starting today

Who is Gloria?

Gloria is a former TV producer and U.S. diplomat turned public relations mentor and pitch guru. Before her current role, she never worked in PR or had any industry contacts or journalist relationships. But she always knew she wanted to work in the industry and has spent all of her career using various media for storytelling that creates impact and opportunities for others. 

Gloria doesn’t believe in public relations as something only established businesses can and should benefit from, nor does she advocate spending money on ads or sponsored content as a way for new businesses to get off the ground. She’s made it her mission to work to empower the smallest, most bootstrapped business founders (some without even a website) to position themselves as leading thought experts ready to be on the front pages of major publications. 

She learned how to hack her own public relations by cold calling and emailing thousands of editors, learning what does and doesn’t work to create a winning methodology. Her CPR Pitching Method™ has helped thousands of small business owners build their credibility and get traction without the need for hiring an agency. Combined, Gloria has garnered her clients over a billion organic views in top-tier publications like Vogue, Fast Company, Forbes, the New York Times.

Links and Resources:

• Gloria Chou
• PR Secrets Masterclass
• CPR Pitching Method™
• Gloria’s Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Community
• Follow Gloria on Instagram @gloriachoupr
• Follow Gloria on LinkedIn @gloriaychou
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

My guest today is a force! Attorney, author, speaker, and consultant Unni Turrettini is on a mission to restore trust in leadership while preventing domestic terrorism and cultivating a culture of peace. She looks at stories through so many different lenses, but I especially love that she tackles the hard stuff.

As the writer of books many consider controversial, she doesn’t back down. But how does Unni pick the stories to tell and bring to life? Why did she feel compelled to research mass murderers like Anders Behring Breivik? And why did she switch from exclusively telling stories on paper to bringing her storytelling abilities in front of the camera?

In this episode, Unni talks about recognizing herself in Breivik’s childhood struggle and examining similar mass killers worldwide for her book. We also dive into the power and necessity of gaining different perspectives than our own, what’s lacking in a lot of today’s global leaders, and more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why there is gold in the act of attentively listening
• How stories can connect us with ourselves
• Why it’s necessary to understand the other’s POV

Who is Unni?

Born in Norway, Unni Turrettini is a lawyer turned best-selling author, international speaker, and thought leader. She has lived as a global citizen in her country of birth, France, Switzerland, and the U.S., earning multiple law degrees along the way. She’s also a member of the New York Bar and worked for several years in law and finance in Paris and Geneva.

While working as a lawyer in Europe, Unni realized that people struggle for power and influence when they don’t feel valued and seen. She sees disconnection as the main reason for abuse and corrupt leadership in the world. Her own multicultural life has given her a perspective with deep understanding and compassion for the differences in cultures and people worldwide.

In her book The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer, Unni takes a sociological and psychological perspective to examine Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass murder responsible for killing 77 people in 2011. In it, she focuses on what can be learned from the attack to stop killing sprees based on extremist ideology. Her book won the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Nonfiction in 2016.

That same year, Unni returned to Norway to live in Oslo with her husband and two kids. Now, she frequently travels to hold retreats, workshops, and speaking engagements aimed at helping women empower themselves with the rediscovery of their truth and working with corporations on gender equality issues to create win-win situations for all involved.

Links and Resources:

• Unni Turrettini
• Follow Unni on Instagram @unnitur
• Follow Unni on Facebook @unni.turrettini
• Follow Unni on LinkedIn @unniturrettini
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Imagine if you had 1,000 or even 100,000 followers on social media… and lost them all in one day. For my guest today, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario; he knows exactly what that feels like.

Christos Nikas has this incredible way of bringing stories to life on Instagram. His posts come alive and they make me feel something, think and dig deeper and play a bigger game. He himself had to dig deep when his account got suspended several times in short order last year. On today’s show, he shares the story about that experience and so much more.

What’s Christos’ perspective on how story influences what he does on Instagram? How did he transition from hating Instagram to embracing the social media platform? What caused the shutting down of his account multiple times? We explore how much to actually give to your audience, how to get the attention of key players on Instagram, and why the platform resembles a big festival. Hang on because you’re in for a ride today!

What you will learn in this episode:

• What role storytelling plays on Instagram
• How much to actually *give* to your followers
• If company executives should use IG for business

Who is Christos?

Christos Nikas hails from Athens, Greece and has earned himself the nickname The Instagram Professor from his community. He’s a graphic designer, content creator, event professional, and perpetual student with a natural talent for educating others since 2004. He focuses on speaking, coaching, and creating content online that assists freelancers and creative entrepreneurs in understanding and growing their business side. His content covers topics like: better handling of objections and negotiations, charging for profit, creative selling, and maximizing every communication detail online and offline.

Back in 1996, Christos joined the wedding industry and remains active in the business today by managing Wedding Republic, one of Greece’s leading event entertainment firms. He started offering seminars and coaching in 2018, and in the following year he created his YouTube channel, the Creative Business Show. On it, he uploads content every week providing straightforward, clear advice on how to grow your creative business. Christos’ objective: to inspire professionals to become creative business machines.

Links and Resources:

• Christos Nikas
• Follow Christos on Instagram @thechristosnikas
• Follow Christos on Facebook @ChristosNikas
• Follow Christos on YouTube @creativebusinesshow
• Follow Christos on LinkedIn @ChristosNikas
• Follow Christos on Twitter @Nikas_Christos
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

We can’t be in business without customers and clients. Therefore, how do we stack the deck to earn their patronage? 

My guest today is an expert in the customer experience and more specifically in creating memories. Darren Ross operates the Magic Castle Hotel in Hollywood, CA, and has a gift for creating memories, unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before.

Want to know what bothers him about the typical hotel experience, especially at major chains? Or how he uniquely attracts customers? Or how the famous Popsicle Hotline at his hotel operates? In this episode, Darren and I discuss a ton of tantalizing topics including: using story as a competitive advantage, training our service reflex and its impact on creative thinking, behaving *nicely* as a consumer which results in surprises (Hello free upgrade!) and a whole lot more.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How creating moments earn memories
• Why business owners should incentivize story creation
• How to develop a service reflex

Who is Darren?

In 1995, Darren Ross wanted to make a career out of making people happy. So he started working in hospitality with Hyatt Hotels and won an award from the California Tourism Board two years later for “Hospitality Employee of the Year.” He left in 1998 for a spot on the opening management team for the Beach House Hotel in Hermosa Beach, CA where he created its standards of service.

After leaving the Beach House, Darren started a “secret shopping” company focused on restaurants and hotels where he and his staff went undercover to evaluate the customer experience for companies. One of those companies was the private club The Magic Castle in Hollywood. After soliciting his services, the family that owned the club offered him a General Manager position for the hotel of the same name next door. They handed him the keys to managing all three of their properties soon after.

In 2013, Darren created his hotel management company Service Freak Hospitality, LLC and under him, the hotel went from ordinary-looking with limited services to a multi-award-winning business with unique amenities and high customer service levels. Magic Castle Hotel has received the Best Guest Relations in California award from the state’s Hotel Lodging Association six out of the last nine years. It’s also consistently in the top hotels in Los Angeles on Tripadvisor and has been featured multiple times in books, podcasts, and customer service articles.

Links and Resources:

• Magic Castle Hotel
• Service Freak Hospitality
• Follow Darren on LinkedIn @darren-ross-43022a1
• Call Darren at: 310-753-3707 (Seriously - that’s his mobile.)
• Email Darren at: [email protected]
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Mentor, writer, speaker, spoken-word poet, behavioral scientist--I could spend hours and hours touching on every single one of these titles for my guest, Dr. Jeremy Goldberg. He’s run the gamut from studying how attitudes affect the actions we take to ranting about love, life, and everything in between online. For the last decade, he’s striven to make kindness cool, empathy popular, and compassion commonplace.

How has story influenced his life? What do stories and rabbit holes have in common? How does the 1980s show The A-Team influence the way he coaches his clients? What sparked his current mission? What action can you take today to live a life that would make you jealous? Dr. Jeremy and I discuss these issues and more in this wickedly fun and insightfully jam-packed interview you won’t want to miss!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How choice leads to narrative change
• What it means to cultivate...the pause
• Why kindness needs to be cool

Who is Dr. Jeremy Goldberg?

As a self-proclaimed recovering scientist turned life coach, Dr. Jeremy Goldberg is an expert in human behavior, spending five years studying the influence of our minds on our actions. He’s worked for international governments and universities and managed millions of dollars and teams of people. In addition, he’s trained himself through many scientific studies and self-help books.

Along with his actual Ph.D., life gave him an honorary doctorate in the School of Hard Knocks where he hit rock bottom and climbed back through major changes in his way of thinking. Now, as the founder of Long Distance Love Bombs, Dr. Goldberg’s mission lies in helping others do the same and make the world better than yesterday in the process. So he’s coached clients; written articles, emails, and a book; hosted retreats, workshops, and a podcast; and created spoken-word poetry videos and social media accounts with over 60,000 people combined.

Links and Resources:

• Love Distance Love Bombs
• It’ll Be Okay and You Will Be Too by Dr. Jeremy Goldberg
• Long Distance Love Bombs podcast
• Follow Dr. Goldberg on Instagram @lovedistancelovebombs
• Follow Dr. Goldberg on Facebook @LoveDistanceLoveBombs
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

What exactly does it mean to champion urban health? How does story influence people’s decisions? My guest today is a true thought leader. Dr. Yonette Thomas has had deep training in research and serves as an urban health champion around the globe.

What does all of that have to do with storytelling? In this episode, Dr. Yonette Thomas talks about the health and well-being of urban areas and brings statistical data to life through the stories of people who live in these communities. She and I also discuss what she calls the flickering of the career light bulb, amplifying your signal with story as a professional, and why failure is a good thing.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why stories are integral for professionals worldwide
• How you can use story to advance your career
• What benefit you can derive from failure

Who is Dr. Yonette Thomas?

Recognized around the world as a thought leader, Dr. Yonette Thomas is an urban health champion who’s held academic positions at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Howard University. She’s also served as a vice president for research and the Chief of Epidemiology in the NIDA/NIH.

She’s a member of several important institutions focused on global health. As a social epidemiologist and medical sociologist, Dr. Yonette Thomas founded UrbanHealth360, an NGO focused on health in urban populations in the Global South. She also founded Borjoner International and Strategic Transitions to influence the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide and leads the Women’s Economic Imperative to advocate the financial value of women and girls’ health. Her resume extends even further with her work as a global advisor for institutions specifically focused on health systems and healthy populations in Asia and Africa.

In addition, she’s helped many of her colleagues throughout her professional career with clearly defining their professional and personal needs, identifying advancement opportunities, and navigating an effective path to achieve their dreams. Taking her own advice and following her passion, Dr. Yonette Thomas formed Strategic Transitions LLC to help people at all stages of their journey keep their passion alive while making strategic career transitions.

Links and Resources:

• Dr. Yonette Thomas
• @dryonettefthomas on LinkedIn
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

No matter our successes, we battle inside voices at some point or another that tell us {likely untrue} stories, trying to dissuade us from taking risks. My guest today, Victoria Labalme, has coined a concept where she shares strategies that’ll both reassure and free you if you’ve been struggling to take the next step or try something new. She has an illustrious background in the arts--from performing to directing and producing. She’s also a consultant to well-loved brands the world over and a keynote speaker who’s given talks worldwide, including on the TEDx stage. Based on that talk, she has now authored a new book, Risk Forward®.

During our interview which is packed with actionable advice, Victoria reveals the impact that stories and storytelling have had on her career. She also talks about how she approached creating her book in order to make it a multisensory experience for others. We dive into telling resonant stories, unpacking how to trust in the power of your own ideas, how to pick stories when speaking to an audience and even a film technique she uses to teach people to rethink their lives.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you may not need a plan
• How to share your ideas with others without fear
• What critical pieces are needed to be a storytelling leader today

Who is Victoria?

Victoria Labalme is a keynote speaker, performing artist, performing coach, and graduate of Stanford University. She assists organizations and individuals to discover their genius ideas and express them at the highest level in their work, on-stage, on camera, and in life.

As an inductee into the Speaker Hall of Fame, she has a reputation for her keynote performances and workshops worldwide and has shared the stage with people like Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield. Hundreds of thousands of people--from entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and consultants to best-selling authors, professors, scientists, and executives--have embraced her systems and strategies. She’s coached elite individuals for high-stakes presentations including Oprah’s SuperSoul Session, PBS Specials, and arena events.

Victoria has over 20 years of performing experience. Her theater and film work have received critical acclaim from several media organizations like The New York Times, BBC, Variety, Good Morning America, and The Hollywood Reporter. As the founder of Risk Forward® and Rock The Room®, she’s currently focused on blending art and business in a way that helps others distinguish their work.

Links and Resources:

• Victoria Labalme
• Victoria on Instagram
• Risk Forward
• Risk Forward Promotion
• Rock the Room
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Gang investigations, patrol, and internal affairs--those are just a few positions my guest today has held during his 16-year career as a law enforcement officer. During his career, Garrett TeSlaa has lived a life of stories, lots of which he can’t share, yet storytelling has infused his profession in some surprising ways.

Why in the world would anyone want to even go into law enforcement with such scrutiny on that profession right now? Does storytelling belong within the law enforcement profession? How do people misinterpret the power of story, especially misunderstandings communications between police officers and the public? Garrett answers these questions and more during our fascinating conversation!

We discuss the number one obstacle facing cops and the communities they serve right now, the type of officers most reluctant or best equipped to deal with that obstacle, and what departments need to do to confront the issue. Garrett also shares a time where story served as an unexpected opportunity to build trust on the job and walks through how he uses a storytelling tool I taught him that you can put into practice immediately.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How story can build trust and value for others in need
• What law enforcement today faces as its biggest challenge
• How people misinterpret the power of story

Who is Garrett?

Garrett TeSlaa left behind a successful career in music and film in 2005 for a career in public service. He graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and obtained his Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Public Sector Management. 

For 16 years, he’s served on active duty as an officer of the law in southern California. Garrett has held assignments in patrol, community relationships, gang investigations, media relations, and internal affairs, among others. He’s also found himself involved in several critical events that brought international press attention. Currently, he hosts The Squad Room, a podcast geared towards personal development for first responders.

Links and Resources:

• The Squad Room
• @thesquadroom on Twitter
• @thesquadroompodcast on Facebook
• Storytelling School Website
• @storytellingschool on Instagram
• @storytellingSchool on Facebook