STORY Podcast

With our thriving community of writers of all types, we wanted to highlight this breakout from STORY 2022 with our friends, David Goetz and Melissa Parks from Journey Sixty6. Journey Sixty6 helps coach and guide their community through things such as manuscript review, writing coaching, and what to do with your manuscript as you edit and get it prepped for publishing or review. Writing can be an isolating experience, and Journey Sixty6 has positioned themselves to be the community for those in that gap between wanting to write and publishing. 

Even if you’re thinking, “I’m not writing a book, or even a writer at all”, still listen in because you never know what the future holds as you continue on your creative journey! To learn more about David and Melissa and what they’re doing through Journey Sixty6, check them out at JourneySixty6.com 

On this episode, we feature two incredible conversations — the first from the STORY stage with Chris Wall and Andrew Peterson of the Wingfeather Saga series, and the second is a post-STORY sit-down with Angel Studios. These two have created not just an incredible series for families, but they went about it in a unique way that can be an inspiration to get you to start thinking about and implementing the way you approach the work you do in brand new ways. Listen in!

Learn more about The Wingfeather Saga’s upcoming release at WingfeatherSaga.com. If you’re curious to learn more about the innovative stuff that Angel Studios is up to, check them out at and Angel.com.

On this episode, we hear from the incredible folks from The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Many of you heard about the heart and soul behind why and how they do what they do from the mainstage at STORY, but in this episode, we also share ways YOU can be part of impacting the world around you by helping to make kindness the norm. Listen in!

To apply for the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Creative Grant mentioned in this episode, click here! Deadline for submission is November 18, 2022.

In this episode, we take one more trip to Neverland via a virtual STORY Town Hall to debrief the STORY 2022 conference and allow our STORY community to ask all their post-STORY 2022 questions. Think of this as an expanded version of the Behind-the-Scenes Breakout Experience at the event. We put a massive amount of focus and energy on creating an intentional experience every year at STORY from the ground up, and in this episode, we talk about how STORY is not just a theme slapped on posters and websites. We share about our process and how we think long and hard about how we want everything to flow, feel, and communicate, taking you on a journey that hopefully leaves you feeling inspired and able to ask bigger questions about what’s possible. And if that means putting a mermaid in the fountain in downtown Nashville, that means we get that mermaid. Listen in!

In case you missed the news, we’ve been listening to the heartbeat of culture all around us, having deep conversations with leaders within our community, and staying curious about the future. For all these reasons, we’ve decided as a team to move away from large events filled with hundreds or thousands of people, for at least a season, to enable us to focus on other new and exciting ways of serving storytellers and the work you do. Listen to this announcement to learn more about the future of STORY.

We continue to explore the Revolutionary Storytelling Type. Revolutionaries are a powerful group of individuals that are on the cusp of almost all change and are constantly rewriting and shifting narratives through their work. The work that Revolutionaries do is the reason that many of us tell stories. We desire change. Disruption. Something better. 

In this episode, we pick up for part 2 of our Round Table discussion with John Bucher and Jason Jaggard. One thing John said on this Round Table that is worth highlighting is, “I refuse to live in a world where this does NOT exist, and I will move heaven and earth until it exists.” It is that passion that makes the Revolutionary so powerful. Listen in to hear more about what he can’t live in a world without. 

John Bucher and Jason Jaggard are incredible Revolutionaries, a type of storyteller who is drawn to leverage the power of story to positively change the future. They press into the world around them to be everything they were meant to be, whether that’s through publishing, deep critical thinking, guiding others to their max potential through coaching, and so much more. Listen in on part one of a conversation about how revolutionaries begin with the stories they tell themselves, and how you can do the same.

As we dive into part 2 of our Round Table conversation with Kevin Carroll and Louis Richardson around the connector, if you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, go back and listen to episode 13 so that you have context around the continuation of this incredibly deep and rich conversation around what it means to be a Connector. On this episode, Kevin and Louis both share great insights into their purpose and focus as Connectors and the power of seeking connection not titles. It is these simple vantage points that can really help give you a picture of what it means at the heart of Connection.

On this episode we continue to dive into the Connector Storytelling Type with two of our favorite Connectors, Lewis Richardson and Kevin Carroll. This interview, pulled from one of our STORY Round Table events, dives into how to leverage our stories as a tool for connection. Those we come into contact with are more receptive to our presence and we can learn so much from everyone if we’re more curious. When we engage with people where they’re at, asking what we can do for them or how we can better serve them, connection is organic. Listen in to learn more about how story and connection go hand in hand. 

As we continue to unpack the Connector Storytelling Type, we would be remiss to not include one of our favorite Connectors…Mr. Brad Montague. If you’ve been around the STORY community for a while, you are very familiar with his genus. Brad is an incredible creator and storyteller who approaches all of his work with a vision for making the world a better place. Whether it’s through his book, Being Better Grown-ups, his wildly successful Kid President video series, or his critically acclaimed children’s book, The Circles All Around Us, Brad’s passion for guiding people together is deep and compelling. We dug back into the archives, and found this talk from STORY 2018 because as timely as this talk about the future was back in 2018, it's still applicable - possibly even more so - in 2022. There are so many unknowns, uncertainties, disconnections, and fears swirling around these days, but  despite the crushing weight of all these uncertainties, there is still hope because we choose to remember it exists. Listen in.

Over the past couple of months, you’ve heard us talking about the 5 Storyteller Types: Amplifier, Artisan, Investigator, Connector and Revolutionary.  If you’re not familiar with these types, or yours for that matter, head over to storygathering.com and take our quick assessment. These “types” help you identify the core motivations behind how and why you tell stories and create the way you do. 

On today’s episode, we are kicking off a new focus to the Connector type. It’s likely that when you hear the word Connector, a specific type of person comes to mind because Connectors are experts at just that: Connecting. Skilled at speaking to others, Connectors are compelling and live compassionate and leadership-driven lives. With a clear balance between their head and their heart, they are magnets for people who want to feel seen and known. To start off this new focus, we’re listening to one of the best, most enthusiastic Connectors we know, Mr. Kevin Carroll. Formerly from Nike, Kevin has an incredible ability to cultivate and curate a positive awe state so that you, and those around you, can get back to wonder in order to create tangible impact. Incredible things take place when this happens. So how do you do it? Listen as Kevin shares inside this episode. 

Last week, we were listening in on the Round Table conversation that I had with David Paull and Kristina Henkai about the Investigator. David talked about behavioral storytelling, breaking it down into the practical RESPCT framework. On this episode, we pick back up with the second half of the conversation and dive into the necessary practice of continually asking yourself  “but why” within your business. 

In my own business practices, this question is something we’re constantly asking and digging deeper on so that as we push out content, write copy, create events, or help clients, we’re operating from a deep understanding of what’s needed and why it matters. 

Listen in on how you can implement this right away to see results and gain clarity and traction in your own business.

As we continue to unpack the Investigator Storytelling Type, we pull from our latest STORY Round Table conversation with David Paull and Kristina Henkai. In this episode, we hear David share the way he approaches his work utilizing a framework he dubs Behavioral Storytelling. What he shares on this episode is so practical and applicable to every storytelling type and has been an important litmus test for everything we do at STORY. This episode is for more than just the Investigators, and for this reason we always encourage you to listen in on each of the types because it’s a great way to figure out where the holes or gaps exist in what you’re doing.

In this episode, we officially kick off our next type, the Investigator. Investigators are an integral part of the storytelling process because they provide the data, research, and facts that help give stories the depth and roots necessary for momentum to be achieved. Though they are anchored in analytics and statistics, which is how they find the truths to their work, they are also logical, innovative, adaptable, calculated, and always in pursuit of truth. One such Investigator that I have learned so much from over the years is David Paull. Combining storytelling and behavioral science, David is the co-founder and CEO of Lillian Labs, a messaging and research consultancy that helps craft, test, and refine stories and content. A few years back, I sat down with David to break down just what his job entails, and why it matters in the context of storytelling, and let me just say, it was such a brilliant and thoughtful way of understanding not just stories as we know them, but why they have the impact they have on a waiting world.

In this episode, we pulled a clip from our recent Artisan STORY Round Table conversation with none other than our friend, Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan is a well known artist, poet, and musician and you’ve probably seen her work pinned somewhere on Pinterest, re-posted all over Instagram, or maybe in Target, Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel. This episode is powerful because Morgan shares how she world through her art and reminds us how “trends will comakes sense of her me and go, but people will always be human.” We can chase the latest and greatest fads in our industries, but the stories that we tell are meant to hit deeper than that, because the aptly called, “human condition” doesn’t change. This episode just might be the gut-check you need for yourself.

As we continue our conversation around the Storytelling type, the Artisan, this episode features our friend, wildly talented Nashville fine artist, Ed Nash, alongside our mutual friend, acclaimed photographer, Allen Clark. You’ll hear Ed as he discusses not only HIS connection to the world around him, but to what he’s creating and the story he hopes it tells, but how it’s interpreted by those that experience it. If you haven’t already taken our Storyteller Type Assessment, please do it, it’s quick, and it will help you follow along on these conversations regardless of which type you are, because learning about different types will help you leverage and understand the skills that they bring to the table like you never expected. 

We are moving on to the next Storyteller Type in our 5 part series, and this one is the Artisan. Many in the STORY community will identify as Artisans because they are deeply passionate about their art and the story it tells those who view or interact with it. From paint on canvas, to carefully crafted lines in poetry, to movement of bodies through dance, to notes that seem to float off of sheet music, Artisans use a variety of mediums to intertwine their heart and message. 

This is exactly why we wanted to kick off the Artisan series with Academy Award Winning costume designer, Ruth Carter. She has dreamt up the way her costumes and designs guide and deepen the stories of those that wear them. Her work has been featured in movies such as Selma, Malcolm X, and Black Panther to name a few, and she is not only brilliant, but deeply connected to the way that costumes tell stories of their own. Don’t miss this conversation, and all the wisdom shared that you can apply to the stories you tell, regardless of the way you create.

Story's greatest power is not in its ability to simply convert, but its ability to connect. If you want to play the long game you must lead with connection first. But for a change-maker who wants to make a bigger difference faster, that can be a little bit complicated. It can be difficult to be patient with the long-term value journey when the cause that you are trying to amplify needs attention now. In this episode, we dip into the archives of a recent Round Table conversation with Ben Stewart, co-founder of Louder Agency, Brand Messaging Strategist and Copywriter, Janelle Traister, as well as Artist and Activist and longtime friend of the STORY Community, Benjamin Von Wong. Listen in as they discuss the tension that often comes from honoring your values in the process of amplifying stories worth telling.

You may have heard the story about how the Chinese word for “crisis” can be represented as “opportunity.” As it turns out, that’s not quite accurate. The word is more like “a crucial point” — the moment right before a big change.

There’s still a lesson there for us, but it’s a pretty nuanced one, and that’s something John Bucher understands well. John is the Creative Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation in Hollywood, who understand the ideas of story and myth about as well as anyone.

Take a listen to John’s talk from the STORY 2020 stage as he explores the concept of embracing these crucial points in the midst of dark moments.

One cause of writer’s block isn’t that we run out of ideas, it’s a fear that the ideas we do have are bad ones. We don’t want to keep writing, keep painting, keep creating — whatever it is — because we’ve got a feeling that the next steps just aren’t very good and we’d rather not create at all than create something that sucks. 

Seth Worley knows that fear. He’s a writer and director who’s done videos for Bad Robot Sandwich Video and Red Giant, where he’s the senior content creator. He’s also helped create some really great tools for writers like the Storyclock Workbook. He says that the key to getting around making bad art is just to go ahead and make bad art and explains why the secret to making good art is making bad art. Take a listen.

We don’t like to talk about disappointment in the creative field is. Creativity is a risk and risks, by their very nature, have a pretty high rate of failure. Those stories don’t get told very much, for obvious reasons. But by not telling those stories, we reinforce this idea that unless you’re hitting success after success, you’re a total failure and should give up.

Take a listen to Cress Williams from the 2020 STORY Stage. Cress is an actor, known for his roles on Black Lightning, Hart of Dixie, and Prison Break.

Something you hear our last year described as a lot is a “dark time” or a “dark season.” Getting to the end of all that was described as a “new day” or a “new morning” for us. And there’s a lot of truth to that, since so many of us lost so much in 2020. But it’s worth asking if our immediate impulses to avoid, ignore or rush through those dark times and get right to the morning is the healthiest way to deal with pain and hardship.

Last year at STORY, we asked that question, and one of our most talked about speakers, Brooke Shaden, had some really great thoughts to share. Brooke is a wonderful artist who uses her work to explore things like darkness, pain, death and decay. She wants to find beauty in those things, and hopefully help us have a better understanding of the dark and hard times in our own life. It’s an experience she’s walked through, and now she wants to help others do it too.

I think all of us can feel tempted towards cynicism these days. However we need to remember that change is possible, and we need to help inspire others to believe it too. That’s how Dr. Chené Swart sees it. She’s a narrative coach and consultant who helps people, organizations and communities with a technique called “narrative therapy,” teaching them to understand their own stories better.

Finding your purpose is a huge deal — for everyone, obviously, but younger generations are especially pursuing purpose-driven work. A Society for Human Resource Management study found that 94 percent of Millennials want to use their skills to benefit a cause. Another survey found that 63 percent of millennials believe the primary purpose of companies should be to make a difference instead of make a profit.

But artist and author Shabazz Larkin has a surprising take on the subject, suggesting that what we’re really looking for isn’t exactly purpose, but something else. Listen in...he might just change your mind on what we talk about when we talk about purpose.

I think most of us are aware of the idea of story as a passion, a skill, and maybe a career. But what about story as survival? What about story as a way of finding your way when all else seems to be lost? There are times when story is sort of like the trail of breadcrumbs we leave in the forest. No matter how dark things get or how far we wander, we’ve got something to lead us back home to hope and safety. 

That’s the theory of Marc Pimsler, an Experiential Therapist, leading voice in Emotional and Mental Health, and a leader at Onsite Workshops, a Personal Growth and Wellness Retreat Center in Nashville. Last year at STORY 2020, Marc gave a talk about story as a way to see in the dark, and it’s one of the most powerful, convicting ways of thinking about story we’ve heard yet. Listen in.

There’s still this idea that we’re living in an extra dark time, that things are bad, worst year ever...that sort of thing. That’s because stories — even macro-level stories — don’t just change on their own. We need storytellers to help us learn how to tell better stories. We need people who care about story to help us set a new, better narrative. That’s something Erin Collasaco is passionate about.

She’s the creative director at OnBeing, a media and public life initiative that’s all about helping people change on a personal level in a way that makes societal transformation better. They’re all about helping us live out better stories, and that’s something Erin wants to help us all do. But, according to her, finding the right story isn’t always as intuitive as you might think. Listen in on some of what she shared with us in her amazing talk last September at STORY.

It’s one thing to know that stories have power. It’s another to learn how to invite the power of story into your spaces. And sometimes, the most important thing you do is nothing at all besides invite others to the table. That’s a lesson David Hutchens knows well.

He’s worked with companies like Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, GE, and so many others, helping them learn about things like strategy and leadership, as well as ethics and corporate responsibility. But what does that have to do with the work you’re doing, regardless of the spaces you’re doing it in? It turns out, everything, because all of David’s work is rooted in his deep understanding of narrative. In this episode, David generously passes some of that understanding along to us.

Zimbabwe has about 13 million people in it, and twelve psychiatrists. Yes, twelve. That’s a problem for Dixon Chibanda, who cares deeply about mental health. He can’t really expect each psychiatrist in his native country to take on a little over a million patients, so he started thinking about what they did have: grandmas. What does this have to do with your work as a storyteller? Everything. Don't miss this incredible episode of the STORY Podcast.

One of those tropes you hear a lot about out there is how much children have to teach us, but if you think about it, we don’t really live that way. We call people who are acting inappropriate “childish.” But there’s a big difference between what is child-ish and child-like. What would it look like to live a life that is child-like, while growing up in ways that leave what is child-ish behind? Maybe kids really do have something to teach us? That’s the life Brad Montague is living.

He’s the guy behind the Kid President web series who also writes for Joanna Gaines’ The Magnolia Journal and all sorts of other amazing projects. He’s written multiple books, including his new book, The Circles All Around Us, which is hitting shelves later this month! Brad has spent his life trying to figure out what kids get right and it’s made a huge difference. He thinks what he’s learned can make a difference in your own life too. If you won’t listen to the kids, maybe you’ll listen to the guy who listens to kids. Listen in on some of Brad’s talk from STORY 2020 here on this episode of the STORY podcast.

What if we could keep creating and never give up? That kind of hope feels a little bit harder to hold on during times like these, doesn't it? Morgan Harper Nichols is a poet, a music artist and a visual artist, and in this talk delivered live at STORY, she shared about how she’s found joy in the everyday, despite the heaviness so often felt in the world around her, and how that joy permits her to keep creating. Want to learn to do the same? Listen in on this first episode of Season 5 of the STORY Podcast.

STORY 2020 is here! It’s our flagship gathering, where each year, over 1,000 storytellers from around the world gathering together for 2+ days of inspiration and instruction to do their best, most creative work. In this special, extended episode, you’ll hear the audio from a mini-masterclass with Jason Jaggard, an entrepreneur, leadership coach, a founding partner of Novus Global and so much more. Together, they discuss leadership as an often overlooked storytelling essential, and how to approach STORY or any other event with a “leader” mindset instead of a “consumer” one. You’ll learn how about how maximum value comes out of full participation, and a new concept Jason discusses that he likes to call “Listenings.” It’s a content-rich episode, and a great way to pre-game any conference experience, whether in-person or virtual. Don’t miss it!

In this special episode, we look ahead to STORY 2020 with our director and curator, Harris III as he unpacks the intentional design of this year’s virtual experience. Whether you’re attending STORY 2020 or not, this episode is rich with insights into the planning and creative process behind producing the event, making it relevant to anyone who wants to creates great experiences for others.

If you already have a ticket, listen to this short episode to learn more about what to expect between now and STORY, and how to fully prepare for our time together as a community.

We’re so used to living in stories that sometimes we don’t even recognize them. It’s like how fish don’t know they’re wet. It takes a really keen mind to not just know a good story when it sees one, but put it together in a way others can understand and find themselves in. Documentary filmmakers are especially great at this, where others might just use rolls and rolls of b-roll, they see a narrative that just needs a little bit of structure.

This week on the STORY Podcast, we learn from a storyteller who is excellent at this very subject, Yogi Roth. Yogi seeks to uncover the humanity in sports around the globe. He’s a Pac-12 Networks college football analyst, filmmaker, scholar, New York Times bestselling author, coach, speaker and world traveler. He’s the kind of guy who can watch a football game and see not just a series of plays, but a real plot. And his take on the intersection of artistry and athletics is so insightful. Don’t miss this illuminating conversation between Yogi and Harris.

Does the word “marketing” strike you as kind of a dirty word? Many of us are part of a generation that really doesn’t like to feel like we’re being sold to. Brands know that, and the smart ones are getting ahead of it by swapping out marketing copy for real stories and real connection.

At STORY, we’ve been saying for years now that a story’s greatest power is not in its ability to convert, but in its ability to connect, and when it comes to achieving conversion in the long term by leading with connection first, few marketers do that better than AJ Hassan. AJ is an Emmy-winning executive creative director who works with creative teams to help businesses and brands infuse their message with life and relevancy. She led the Equality Can’t Wait gender equity work for R/GA in partnership with Melinda Gates’ company: Pivotal Ventures. The “Like a Girl” campaign she led was a huge viral hit. She’s won tons of awards and lots of acclaim for her work and she understands, better than most, how to make advertising just a little more human.

This week on the STORY Podcast, we dip into the archives to hear a portion of AJ’s talk from her time at STORY. It’s one that can help us all, because we’re all marketers now. As we share and promote our own work, or the work of others, how can we focus on connection? Listen to AJ Hassan tell us how.

Let’s be honest...getting a new perspective is harder than it sounds. It’s not just shaking your head and trying harder. It’s not just a gut check. It’s a real mental move — a shift in your whole way of being. It’s about being aware of your awareness, and taking control of it, and that’s a huge part of navigating the kind of spaces we’re finding ourselves these days in a healthy way.

In this episode of the STORY Podcast, Apollo Robbins speaks to these very ideas. He’s an American sleight-of-hand artist, security consultant, self-described gentleman thief, and deception specialist.

Forbes has called him “an artful manipulator of awareness.” Obviously there are lots of ways a guy like Apollo can use his talents — and he does. But he can also teach us how to do what he does — take control of our own awareness. Don’t miss this insightful episode.

How is your work impacting others? Here’s the simple answer: you don’t really know for sure. We might have metrics — profit margins, Google analytics, retweets — but that’s reach, not impact. How is what you do really connecting to other people, changing them and affecting them on a heart level? Part of the reality of living in the liminal space of creativity means learning that while we’re all connected, most of those connections are invisible.

That’s something Benjamin Von Wong understands really well. Von Wong’s work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution. Most recently, he was named one of Adweek’s 11 content branded masterminds.

Don’t miss this episode of the STORY podcast where we sat down to talk to Benjamin about connection, isolation, and the thin lines between the two, and so much more.

We’re moving into month five of this pandemic. It’s hard to even remember March now, when lockdown felt like kind of a weird novelty. Many of us have gotten used to spending huge chunks of the day stuck with ourselves — and that’s a tough place to be. Or it can be, unless you learn how to utilize it well.

That’s something this week’s guest, Thaniya Keereepart, can help you learn to do. Thaniya is a seasoned product executive with over 17 years experience in the media technology space. She’s built three teams from the ground up and helped grow recognizable media brands from start-up mode to structured, scalable companies. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including Emmy, Peabody, Adobe MAX, Debby, and the prestigious National Design Award.

Thaniya’s connection to storytelling is through an understanding of human-computer interaction, design, and behavioral economics. Her transformative work has shaped the future through tenures at Major League Baseball, TED, and as Head of Product and Creator Experience at Patreon. If you’re wondering what to do with some newfound alone time, she’s got some really great advice. Don’t miss this episode.

The tension. The mystery. The unknown. It’s something that comes up often, especially in this trying season of a global pandemic. Thankfully, that mystery and tension is one Meera Lee Patel’s specialities, and she’s our guest on this week’s episode.

Meera is a self-taught writer, artist and best-selling author of books like My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown; Made Out of Stars: A Journal for Self-Realization, and Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration.

She has worked with companies like Anthropologie, Amnesty International, Spirituality & Health Magazine, Target, Vogue India, Wix and more to help tell stories through campaigns that help us better understand who we are.

Listen in as she helps us understand the space we find ourselves in better than most — and how to find your way.

Do you ever question your own abilities as an artist, creator, communicator or storyteller? Especially when you’re exposed to the brilliance of one of your creative peers?

Jinahie is a gifted spoken word poet and activist who has performed for TEDx, Sundance, the US Department of Education, United Nations, the Smithsonian Institute, the Kennedy Center, and even performed in front of Michelle Obama. She’s also shared the stage with everyone from Lupe Fiasco to Smokey Robinson to the Roots, Angela Davis, the list could go on.

While being exposed to Jinahie’s talent and genius may leave you with that feeling of questioning your own abilities, she actually does the opposite.

In this episode of the STORY podcast, she will inspire you to be more confident in your own creative uniqueness. Listen now, and allow her words to encourage you.

What is “genius?” Is it something you’re just born with, like freckles or perfect pitch? Or is it something that can be cultivated, like growing a garden or redoing your kitchen?

That’s a question that Gillian Ferrabee is interested in. You might have seen Gillian performing on stage, TV or the movies. At the very least, you’re probably familiar with her work as a 12 year veteran at Cirque du Soleil. Now, as the founder of the consulting organization, Kite Parade, Gillian helps people activate and achieve their highest potential for genius.

Find out how in this insightful episode of the STORY Podcast.

Welcome to Season 4 of the STORY Podcast

John Bucher on Liminal Space

Ken Black on Storytelling and Building Brands

Michael Margolis on Technology and Storytelling

Kevin Carroll on Building a Community

Brad Montague on Looking Into the Future

Vera Leung on Restoring Wonder in Storytelling

Kevin Carroll on Creative Confidence

Jason Jaggard on Redeeming Cliché in Storytelling

CJ Casciotta on Embracing Your Unique "You"

David Paull on Storytelling and Behavorial Science

JJ Heller on Using Melody to Enhance a Good Narrative

Shawn Askinosie on Doing Meaningful Work

Abigail Fuller talks to us about how she uses food to tell a story.

Ruth Carter talks to us about how she uses clothes to tell a story.

To kick off 2019, we gathered some of the most successful and creative people we know to discuss how they set their year up for success. 

You can hear some of the insightful conversation during this first episode of Season 03 of the STORY Podcast. 

CJ Casciotta is an author, speaker, and brand consultant who has worked with companies like Whole Foods and Lululemon to help them find their unique identity. During this conversation we talk about the importance for finding and embracing your weird, especially in the digital age. 

To learn more about CJ and order his new book, visit cjcas.com/.

To learn more about STORY, visit STORY2018.com

When we set out to "face our fears", sometimes we jump to the biggest, boldest step that we can take. But what if faced our fears on our own terms? Listen to this short, 5 minute episode to learn how.

For more creative resources, visit STORYCraft.co

To learn more about STORY, visit STORY2018.com

Sometimes inspiration comes in seemingly un-inspirational forms. But the most ordinary things can become the most extraordinary stories. Listen to this week's STORY Craft episode to learn how. 

Access more resources >> STORYCraft.co

Learn more about STORY 2018 >> STORY

This week's tip might be the simplest that we have ever given on this podcast. Listen in to how this one thing can get you closer to the best idea yet.

Access more resources >> STORY Craft.

Learn more about >> STORY.

Linda Woolverton is a screenwriter and is the first woman to have written an animated feature for Disney, Beauty and the Beast, which was also the first animated film ever to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. She also helped write the screenplay for The Lion King, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and Maleficent. 

It's needless to say, she has a lot to say about storytelling and awakening wonder.

To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYgatherings.com. 

We've all been there. Unhappy with where our project sits, unsure of where the story should go next. Try this fun exercise the next time that you don't know how the story should develop.

To gain access to more resources and creative tips, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYGatherings.com.    

Where do you start when it comes to creating something? Do you start with a need? Is it your job? Or do you create something simply because it’s something that you want to see in the world? We tackle those questions and so much more, this week on the STORY Podcast with filmmaker and storyteller, Jason Russell.

To learn more about Jason, head over to alittleradical.com/. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYGatherings.com. 

During an interview with writer and spoken word poet, Micah Bournes, we talked about the creative process and being vulnerable with your work. But he also had something very important to say about the dreaded writer's block. Listen to this week's episode to learn how to overcome it.

For more resources and to listen to the full interview with Micah, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYgatherings.com.    

We often talk about what you should do while creating and telling a story, but this week we talk about what NOT to do. 

For more creative tips and resources visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYgatherings.com.

Maggie Gaudaen in a Senior Creative Director at the award-winning digital agency, ISL. We had a chance to have a conversation with her about the difference between art and creativity and telling stories in the commercial space, all in front of a live audience in DC.

For more creative resources, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORY2018.com.  

Need an easy framework while writing your next story? Listen to this week's episode as we talk about the 5 key elements that are needed to tell a great story. 

For more resources and creative tips, visit www.STORYCraft.co. For more information about STORY, visit www.STORYGatherings.com. 

Dr. Seuss may be the most successful and creative children's author of all time, so there's a lot that we can learn from him. This particular story is applicable to any project that you may be working on, big or small.

For more creative tips and resources, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYGatherings.com.   

David Hutchens is a writer and storytelling consultant who works with leaders and companies to help them tell their story. He claims that if you're the leader, you are the narrator and he's on a mission to help companies transform their systems by helping them write their stories. 

To learn more about David, visit http://www.davidhutchens.com/. To gain access to more resources and to learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Practicing this simple exercise can help combat your inner critic before they even speak. Listen to this short episode to learn how.

To gain access to more creative tips and resources, visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYgatherings.com.  

Sometimes the smallest actions can really boost your work ethic and level of creativity. This week's tip is an easy action that few of us actually participate in, but could change the trajectory of our work. 

To gain access to more creative tips and resources, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYGatherings.com.  

During part 2 of this conversation with Seth Worley, we talk about some of the exercises and tools that Seth uses to grow as a storyteller. 

To learn more about Seth and his work, visit https://plotdevices.co/. To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Having this one thing could change the trajectory of your career and life. Listen to this short, 5 minute episode to find out what it is. 

To gain access to more creative tips and resources visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Writer and Director, Seth Worley, got his start filming video effect tutorials. Now, you can find him working on projects for JJ Abrams and starting his own company called Plot Devices. But how did he get there? We talk about that and so much more, this week on the STORY Podcast.

To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORYgatherings.com 

These simple steps could help you get unstuck when working on a new idea. Listen to this quick 5 minute conversation to learn how to break through your next creative block.

To gain access to more resources and creative tips, visit www.STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORY2018.com

Try this the next time that you feel like you're hitting a creative block. It might help you get unstuck.

For more creative tips and resources, visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit www.STORY2018.com.

Danae is a Managing Principle at one of our favorite companies, Visioneering Studios. They work with clients to help their offices and stores tell their stories. Danae believes that design principals, from all disciplines, should create solutions that address our most pressing cultural and social issues. We talk about management, the creative process and so much more during this incredible conversation.

We loved learning from her during this episode and we can't wait to learn from her on the #STORY2018 stage! Learn more at www.STORY2018.com.

Do you sometimes wonder if you have a story? Or maybe you know that you have one, but you're not sure how to tell it in a compelling way. This framework could help shape you tell your story in a way that will help with your leadership, your community and inspire those around you.

To gain access to more resources visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit STORYGatherings.com.

As artists and storytellers, it seems like we give fear a lot of power in our narrative. But what if we could shift the way that we view fear and the effect that it has on us and our creative work? 

Jason Michaels is a speaker and illusionist who has had to face a lot of fears in his career. During this week's episode we talk about how he overcame them and how you can too. 

To gain access to more resources, visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit STORY2018.com.

How you fill your calendar says a lot about you and your work. How can you use it to value yourself and your creativity. Listen to this week's STORY Craft episode to find out.

To gain access to more resources, visit STORYCraft.co. To purchase tickets to STORY 2018, visit STORY2018.com.

When's the last time that you hit pause on Netflix and drove to the movie theater? During this week's STORY Craft episode we talk about how going to the theater can boost your creativity. 

To gain access to more creative tips and other resources visit www.storycraft.co. To learn more about STORY visit www.STORY2018.com.

What is the Creative Revolution? It's the time that we are living in right now. If you've ever struggled with identifying as a "creative" this conversation is for you. If you're proud of of being a "creative", this conversation is for you. 

Todd is the author of 4 books all about living the creative life. He’s a speaker, a consultant, and he also hosts the podcasts “The Accidental Creative” and “Herding Tigers” where he delivers weekly tips and ideas for staying prolific, brilliant and healthy.

Todd can also add STORY 2018 speaker to his resume. We're so excited to learn from him this Fall. If you don't have you ticket yet, head on over to www.STORY2018.com to snag your seat now! 

If you're looking for a small way to shake up your work week and get your creative juices flowing - this week's tip is for you.

To gain more access to additional resources and premium content, visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit STORY2018.com.

Curious of what STORY 2018 will be like this year? Tune in to get a special preview from the STORY Team about the theme, the speakers and the format of this year's event. 

Learn more and secure your ticket for this year's event at story2018.com

Wonder is pertinent to your creative work. If you aren't wired for curiosity and imagination, creating something new will always be difficult. This is why this week's tip is so important, but it's also very simple. Listen in to see how this one act could reawaken wonder in you.

To gain access to more resources visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY and our 2018 conference, visit STORY2018.com.

What does one of the most successful storytellers do every single day? Find out on this week's STORY Craft Episode and learn a simple way to stimulate your creativity on a daily basis.

To gain access to more resources and connect to the STORY Community, visit STORYCraft.co. Learn more about our workshops and gatherings, click here.

Do you feel like you don't have a story? Or that your story isn't worthy of telling? This week's episode we talk about the one thing that will make or break a story. And you'll be surprised at how liberating it will be to hear what it is. This will help you tell your story, no matter how big or small it may seem to you.

To gain access to more resources like this one, go to STORYcraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit STORYGatherings.com.

Amena Brown is an author, speaker and spoken word poet who strings words into beautiful phrases while speaking truth. During this conversation she talks about embracing vulnerability in her work, dealing with criticism and how storytellers can shift cultures through creativity.

She gave a powerful talk at STORY 2017 that was a blend of spoken word and soul-filled creative genius. It was one of our top rated presentations and you can view it now on STORYCraft.co if you become a premium member.

Have you ever held on to an idea so tightly that you didn't leave room for improvements or perhaps an even better idea? This week we talk about why you must be willing to fall out of love with an idea in order to come up with something better.

To gain access to more creative resources, visit STORYcraft.co.

Do you ever find yourself waiting for inspiration to strike? Or waiting for the big idea to just come to you? This week we talk about how you have to meet your creative work in the middle and how to do just that.

To access more creative resources and learn more about STORY, visit storycraft.co