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Jim Krueger is an award-winning filmmaker, New York Times best-selling author, copy-writer, video game developer and comic book writer and graphic novel legend. He is quite literally one of the best storytellers we’ve ever met.  We always learn something from him and this podcast was no different. Listen in as we learn about the one thing that every good story needs. If you want to learn more from Jim, we are hosting a one-day workshop with him on March 24th in Chicago! Click here to learn more.

What's the difference between your limbic and executive brain? And why is it important to stay in your limbic state while creating? Learn why it's best to create without rules and before looking at your phone in the morning during this week's STORY Craft episode. This could be key for your next project. To listen to Ally Fallon's conversation and gain access to other resources, go to www.storycraft.co

As storytellers, we like to use the excuse "My work speaks for itself". But our audience is longing for more beyond the creative work. Humans want to dig deeper and learn the backstory of the project. Learn what you need to share in order to make a larger impact with your work in this week's #STORYCraft Episode. To gain access to more resources, visit STORYCraft.co. To learn more about STORY, visit STORYGatherings.com.

Laura Youngkin is a theatrical producer, creative consultant, and proud Millennial, but she’s also so much more…. During this conversation we talk about the tension of living in a culture inundated with social media and praises the amount that we work. We'll also talk about the stereotypes that have been given to millennials and how we can navigate through them in the workplace. You can learn more about her organization The Brave Millennial here. Learn more about STORY and gain access to other resources visit www.storygatherings.com.

If you warm up your body before a workout, why not warm up your mind before a meeting or getting started on your next project? This week's creative tip will help you get your creative juices flowing when you need it the most. For more resources from STORY, check out www.storycraft.co

This week's #STORYCraft tip might help your team come up with the best idea you've ever had.  Listen to this week's creative tip and learn how this one thing can change how you brainstorm.

MacKenzie Huynh is a Creative Lead at Pinterest where she found a space where her storytelling abilities and creativity collided. She's been working on a campaign this year about stepping into a "What if" moment, to push people to embrace that thing that they want to do.  MacKenzie's "What if" moment happened on the STORY 2017 stage where she shared the fact that giving a talk was her one thing that she was scared to do. She ended up being one of our highest rated speakers. During this conversation you'll learn how to step into these moments and how shifting your perspective can change everything about your work and your life. To learn more about STORY visit www.storygatherings.com.

During this week's #STORYCraft episode, we'll talk about the one act that you have to make time for in your creative process. No matter what canvas you are creating with, this step will help make you're project better. Learn more about the producers of STORY at www.storygatherings.com. To gain access to more resources and creative content, visit www.STORYcraft.co

Each week, the STORY team is going to bring you a creative tip that will impact your work and life in five minutes or less. No matter what vein of work you are in or what kind of medium you use to tell your story, these five minutes will help you to create your best, most creative work. This week will talk about how to ask the right questions and why this is the first step to discovering the right answers. For more creative tips and resources, visit www.storycraft.co.

Matthew Luhn is a 20 year Pixar veteran, who worked on some of their biggest films including Up, Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Monster’s Inc, Cars and so many others. He began as an animator, but most of his career at Pixar was in the key role of Story Supervisor. He now spends his time as a branding consultant, a creative writing instructor and a workshop leader. During this conversation you'll learn about Matthew's journey to Pixar, how to bounce back from failure and how to create space for your best creative work. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com. Learn more about our members-only platform STORY Craft at STORYCraft.co.

To kick off 2018, we gathered some of the most successful and creative people that we know to talk about how they set their year up for success. It was two hours jam packed with incredibly useful information.  You can hear some of the insightful conversation during this first episode of Season 02 of the STORY Podcast. If you want to watch full replay of the interactive live stream with Jason Jaggard, Gillian Ferrabee, Jon Acuff, Brad Montague, Nikkolas Smith and Jim Krueger CLICK HERE. You will need to sign up for a free membership on our brand new site, STORY Craft. When you create an account, you will gain access to other talks from our annual conference. We hope that you'll join us!

He calls himself a "Hope Slinger" and we couldn't agree more. Carlos Whittaker is a People’s Choice Award winner, a former recording artist signed to a major label, a social media maven, and currently spends the majority of his time writing books and speaking on stages around the world. On this episode we talk about what it means to "hope sling", how he became a storyteller on every medium, and how "Killing the Spider" can lead you to a fuller, more hopeful life.

If you've ever struggled between the tension of commerce and art, this episode is for you. Ed Nash is a book salesman turned Art Dealer, Appraiser and Artist. His work can be found in collections across the US and UK and is represented in galleries in New York, Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville TN. But this journey didn't happen overnight. Learn how a kid from the UK made his way to Nashville to become the successful artist that he is today. Find out more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Bethany Haley Williams has a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and masters and license in clinical social work, and she is a leader in the field of war-affected child rehabilitation. In addition to her work through Exile International, the organization she founded, she also works with organizations like the United Nations. She is an activist, committed to amplifying the voices and stories of war-affected youth through art therapy. We love that she had a moment where she knew that she couldn't not do it. And so she did something. Learn how she started an organization where her passions and skills met an unmet need and how you might be able to discover where you can use your art to do the same. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Steven Chaparro is the Vice President of Strategic Design at Visioneering Studios where they envision and design spaces that matter and tell stories. During this talk at STORY 2016, he discusses the importance of creatives to find our identity outside of our work and our job as storytellers. This talk was given on stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN. If you would like to watch the talk, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Author and entrepreneur, Hannah Brencher talks about the different stages of writing and the creative process. During this talk you will learn about fighting with fear, insecurity, and comparison during the journey of starting something new. Hannah also shares why and how you should set boundaries around your creative process and how to stay authentic in your writing. This presentation was given at #STORY2016 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.

Communicator and entrepreneur, Hank Fortener gave this talk about how moments in our life define us to close out #STORY2016. In this presentation, he dissects different emotions that may effect how we view life and how we treat others. This insightful and creative talk will help you shift perspective and open your eyes to how moments have defined you and motivate your actions. If you'd like to watch this talk, visit www.storygatherings.com. This talk was given at STORY 2016 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.

Executive coach and author, Jason Jaggard talks about how our imagination can sometimes rob of us of the life we were meant to live. During this talk, you will learn how to see the boundaries that you create for yourself and discover how to break them in order to define new possibilities for your work and your life. This captivating talk will challenge you to dream bigger, and give you the tools to reach those dreams. This talk was giving at STORY 2016. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Welcome to a special episode of our show, where we sit down with Ian Morgan Cron to walk through each of the 9 numbers of the Enneagram. Along the way, you’ll gain some insight into your potential number, how it might help you understand yourself better, and what it all means for how you interact with others both at work and at home. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

We all have a contribution to make as artists…we just have to keep it within a reasonable idea of who we are. But who are we? Isn’t that a questions we as artists and storytellers so often struggle with? We talk about that and so much more with best-selling author, artist, psychotherapist and priest, Ian Morgan Cron. It's pretty easy to say that he has a unique perspective on life and he wants nothing more than to invite you to live it to your fullest. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

This week we take a journey into the past to learn about the future with critically acclaimed filmmaker turned over-the-top successful YouTuber, Casey Neistat. We learn how his personal story shaped stories that he tells, then gain insight into his creative process, work ethic, and daily routine.  This talk was given at STORY 2016 in Nashville, TN. To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Are you guilty of doing everything in your power to avoid pain and conflict? It’s something we all do. But as storytellers, we know that deep down that it’s actually conflict that makes a character’s journey interesting. So why don’t we embrace the same idea in the story that we’re each living out? In this week’s conversation we talk about that idea, and a whole lot more... John Bucher is a mythologist, award-winning writer, and futurist. His books include The Inside Out Story, Master of the Cinematic Universe, Story by the Numbers, and Storytelling for Virtual Reality. That explains why he is consistently tapped by companies like HBO to develop spiritually-themed content for their digital presence, and has served as a writer and consultant for numerous film, television, and VR projects. He's also a film instructor and it's clear from this conversation that he loves to talk about storytelling. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com

Jeremy Casper is a writer, director, producer as well as a film instructor and guest lecturer. He currently teaches Narrative Storytelling at his alma mater, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center and has led screenwriting and directing seminars all over the world in partnership with The Global Short Film Network and The Visual Story Network. He strongly believes in the power of story, and has a unique perspective as we dive into transcendent storytelling, what it means and what should be defined as story.  To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com

Steve Daugherty is a pastor, a powerful communicator, and a #STORY2016 featured storyteller. He's been seen on stages around the country where he simply tells a story and leaves the audience to draw the "moral of the story" for themselves. And it's incredibly compelling. During this conversation we talk about why an honest story holds power, how it can change lives, and impact culture.

Scott McDaniel currently serves as Vice President of Creative for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, overseeing the creative team facilitating visual art for the city of Nashville. It’s a new role for him that he is totally crushing. And that’s no surprise, because his new role is on the heels of 20 years experience in creating visual art within the entertainment industry. He has a ton of experience when it comes to storytelling and collaborating with others to make sure that the best possible story is told. Learn more at storygatherings.com.

Fear. It’s something that everyone faces, but it seems that fear has a huge stronghold on the creative community. This week we sat down with Dave Barnes to talk about fear, spirituality within the creative process, and separating our identity from our art. While he has made a career as an artist in his own right, he’s also written songs for artists like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and more, so he has a lot to talk about when it comes to creativity. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com

Is there something that is holding you back from creating what you were meant to create? Do you find yourself making excuses to not press the post button or to not even embark on a project at all? It’s so easy to push back on opportunities out of fear or some other force that might be ruling your life, like pain. But what if we were able to persevere and create anyway? This week, we sat down with speaker and stylist, Ruthie Lindsey to talk about just that. worked with brands like Free People, Urban Outfitters and West Elm. But that success didn’t happen overnight. Listen in as we talk about the hurdles that she had to overcome to be able to produce the work that she was meant to create. Learn more at www.storygatherings.com

Do we have a problem with self-esteem in creative industries? And what is the right balance of encouraging each other by building each other up to inspire growth and further creativity, while being honest with ourselves and each other about our strengths and weaknesses? Steve Feldman is a multiple Emmy award-winning director. His credits are fascinating. His IMDB page is an impressive list of projects, ranging from children’s programing to TV documentaries. He event spent 8 years directing Sesame Street. Steve is a veteran storyteller, who has an incredible amount of experience, and has a unique perspective on living a creative life. And his advice for all of us working towards his status? It may sound a lot different than you thought that it would. All of that and more on this week's episode. To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

How often do we get caught up in the end result or have a certain motive behind a project? We set some type of expectation upon it that can leave us disappointed. Whether it’s a book deal, a future speaking gig, or even just a certain amount of likes on Instagram. As artists and storytellers we can struggle to stay present in the journey of our art, but isn’t that where the magic happens? A self-made singer-songwriter, Matt has spent years creating soulful, feel-good pop music on his own terms. He has toured the country with songwriters like Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, Parachute and Gavin DeGraw. More than a decade into a career filled with commercial success and touring milestones, Matt remains proud to be an independent singer-songwriter. And there's a lot that we can learn from him when it comes to being vulnerable with our art, how to approach the editing process, and finding our identity beyond our project. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Branden Harvey is a storyteller and photographer who helps brands and non-profits tell their stories. He's worked with companies like Starbucks, Comcast, World Vision, and Southwest Airlines. Now, he's working a project of his own to will promote the "Good News" in the world. Listen in to learn how to tell stories in our digital world, and how to change the narrative, for the better, on various platforms. To learn more about STORY, visit www.storygatherings.com.

Amber is an artist and writer who has worked with the likes of Seth Godin, Apple, and Google. She has set out on a mission to choose "Wonder over Worry" and to teach other's to do the same. Not only does she have some incredible things to say that will impact your work and life during this episode, but we also start spilling some secrets about #STORY2017. Learn more at http://storygatherings.com/ and http://choosewonder.com/.

Allen Clark is a celebrity photographer who's portfolio includes photos of George W. Bush, Dave Matthews, Ethan Hawke, Ludacris, and so many more. During this conversation he talks about battling self-doubt, what it means to 'make it', and the importance of telling a story. Learn more about Allen at http://www.allenclarkphotography.com/.

Danielle Bennett is a poet, communicator, and educator who works as a freelance artist as well as in strategic planning for an organization in the public schools of Los Angeles, CA. As a spoken word artist, she has been seen on stages across the country for various events, including #STORY2016. Listen to this powerful conversation as we talk about vulnerability and the tangibility of your art. If you're living between the tension of being a full-time artist or working an office job, this episode is for you.

Over the past month, we have been asking the STORY community this question: "Where did you fall in love?". We received some beautiful stories, and we are excited to share them with you on this special Valentine's Day episode. We hope that you enjoy these real, raw, and beautiful stories! Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com

Allison Fallon is a writer, speaker, and expert coach who is passionate about helping you uncover your unique beauty, power and passion in the world. She’s written ten books and dedicated the last ten years of her life to helping people overcome fears, find healing and uncover their hidden gifts. Listen to this live podcast recording from our Winter STORY Gathering in Nashville, TN as she talks the creative process, setting goals, and discovering what you were meant to do. Learn more at www.storygatherings.com.

It's safe to say that the President of the Producers Guild of America knows a thing or two about great storytelling. She is the executive producer of the hit CBS series "Madame Secretary", one of the executive producers of the National Geographic Emmy-nominated hit series "The Story of God,” the network’s most-watched series of all time, AND the CEO of Revelations Entertainment which she co-founded with Morgan Freeman. She has some experience under her belt, and she was so gracious to talk shop with us while she was on set for "Madame Secretary". Listen in to learn how she got to where she is today, and how to decide which story to tell. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Jon Acuff is the New York Times Bestselling author of five books. For 19 years he’s helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team. His blogs have been read by 4 million people, so he knows a thing or two about captivating an audience. During this conversation we talk about setting goals, finishing your current project, how to deal with haters, and so much more! This episode is full of practical advice for anyone as an artist, storyteller, or creator. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

Nikkolas Smith is an artist, author, activist, and Disney Imagineer who loves telling powerful stories through his art. His work has been featured on CNN and in Lionsgate films. He has used his gift as an artist and a Master of Architecture to assist in the construction of our favorite Disney parks in Florida, California, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. During this conversation you will learn how to spark important conversations with art and the importance of discipline while creating. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com

Sarah Dubbeldam, Editor-in-chief and Creative Director of Darling Magazine, has successfully launched a brand that has disrupted the conversation. Darling Magazine is a beautifully crafted publication that has turned into a lifestyle brand that is empowering women through carefully curated content every day. Sarah has a lot to say about the struggles of balancing her creativity with becoming an entrepreneur and leader of a company. She also has some incredible insight into what it takes to be a writer, create a lifestyle brand that aligns with a mission, and why the voice of Darling needs to be heard. Learn more about Darling at www.darlingmagazine.org and STORY at www.storygatherings.com.

As we walk into 2017, we couldn't think of a better guest to kick off this year on our podcast than the always inspirational, Brad Montague. During this conversation, we talked a lot about where our inspiration comes from, our creative process, and why we can't not create. Brad is the creative genius behind the viral sensation, Kid President, as featured on Rainn Wilson's SoulPancake. Brad is a writer, director, and father who believes that if kids and grown-ups work together, we can change the world. Learn more about STORY at www.storygatherings.com

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.” ― Bob Hope We wanted to help you recall some special moments during this Holiday season, in hopes to awaken a child-like wonder for this season. Listen in as we share some of our favorite memories, and some of your stories from Christmas past. We hope that you and your family create more beautiful moments during the next week or so and that you keep re-discovering that child-like wonder throughout the year. Merry Christmas from all of us at STORY!

Vice President of Production at National Geographic, Matt Renner, knows a thing or two about finding a story. After spending time on the Bering Sea to film "The Deadliest Catch" and piecing an Emmy-winning storyline together, he is taking on his next project that will take viewers to space. While creatively pushing the limits, the new series "Mars", is part present-day documentary, part fictional futuristic storytelling. And it's inspiring imaginations everywhere. During this insightful conversation with Matt, you'll learn how to find a compelling story, how to push the boundaries, and what it means to hustle.

Chief Creative of the Global Franchise Group at DreamWorks Animation, Rick Rekedal has quite a bit to say about storytelling. During this informative conversation you'll learn about the creative process that DreamWorks goes through during a film release, the strategy behind the way that stories are told, and where storytelling is going in the future as technology continues to change. This #STORY2016 presenter will have your wheels spinning as you think about how to put your next creative work out into the world.

Author and entrepreneur, Jason Jaggard was voted one of #STORY2016's favorite presenters. He captivated and challenged the audience to tap into a life beyond their imagination. And this podcast is no different. Listen as we discuss the role of spirituality in creativity, setting goals and reaching your maximum potential in all aspects of your life.

Steven Chaparro is the Head of Business Development at Visioneering Studios where they work with organizations to tell their story through architecture and design. During this conversation, you'll learn about spacial storytelling and how to showcase your company's DNA through architecture. We also talked about how to combat the struggle of comparison, dealing with criticism as an artist, and what it means to discover your "dream job". And if you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll love the conversation we have about the rise of the coffee culture. Learn more about the work that Steven does at https://stevenachaparro.com/

Micah is an extremely talented writer, poet, and communicator. If you were at #STORY2016, you witnessed him silence a room with his incredible work. We loved sitting down with him to talk about his creative process, the rules of writing, and the role that storytellers can play in our society's story as it relates to racism and justice. He even shared a couple of his incredible poems with us that are sure to inspire and challenge you.

We got to sit down with Hank Fortener backstage at STORY 2016 to talk about his life as a communicator, entrepreneur, and podcaster. We loved hearing his insight to what pushes him to start something new. In this episode, you'll learn about the role envy plays in his life as a storyteller and what pushes him to constantly create new things. Be sure to check out World Adoption Day and how you can get involved on November 15th here: http://worldadoptionday.org/

Hannah Brencher is an author, TED speaker, and entrepreneur. We got to sit down with her backstage at STORY 2016, and it was a lot of fun. She has a way with words and we were exited to talk to her about her creative process, especially since she is in the middle of writing her second book. In this episode, you will learn how to create boundaries and what role social media should play in your creative process. Hannah also gives some great advice for anyone who is a writer.

Dan Goods is the "Visual Strategist" for NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab where he develops creative ways to communicate complex concepts by transforming them into meaningful stories that can be universally understood. His work can be seen in museums, airports, and outer space. In this episode, you'll learn what it takes to make stories meaningful and unforgettable and the best question to ask while creating a new project. Learn more about Dan at directedplay.com

Hollywood veteran producer, Gary Foster is known for his projects such as Tin Cup and Sleepless in Seattle. But we were really excited to have a conversation about how his latest project, Denial came to fruition. The movie recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt's legal battle for historical truth against David Irving, who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. It's a story that needs to be told, and we loved hearing how and why Gary fought for the movie to be made. He has so much great advice for producers who have a story to be told.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with President of The Giving Keys, Brit Gilmore, as we discuss the storytelling nature of The Giving Keys, and what she has learned by leading an impact-driven brand with over 70 employees, many of whom have transitioned out of homelessness. We love The Giving Keys story...don’t miss this opportunity to learn first-hand from Brit’s experience as the leader of a company changing the world.

We got to have an incredible conversation with author, speaker, an entrepreneur, Annie F. Downs. We learned so much from her as she talked about how she became a writer, what it's like to lead a team, and why you shouldn't quit. If you want to hear more from Annie, check out her podcast called That Sounds Fun over on www.anniefdowns.com/

We loved sitting down with CJ Casciotta to talk about what it means to embrace our weirdness. CJ is a creative director who has worked with brands like Whole Foods and charity:water to help them tell their stories. He now has his own podcast called "Sounds Like a Movement" where he has talked with people like Seth Godin, Krista Tippet, and Tony Hale. Listen to this episode and learn how to embrace your weirdness, because "in a sea of same, weird wins."

We sat down with Cole NeSmith to talk about cultivating art, creating a community, and how Orlando used art to heal after the Pulse tragedy. Cole is an artist, actor, writer, producer, and the executive director of the Creative City Project, an annual arts event in Downtown Orlando featuring collaborations with Cirque du Soleil, Orlando Ballet, The CFCArts Orchestra, and over 1000 artists, performers, and musicians.

We got to have a lively conversation with poet, activist, and educator, Nikki Giovanni to talk about storytelling, how to stay hopeful, and the importance of finding your own voice. Nikki is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech where she continues to write and contribute to important cultural conversations.

We sat down with Jeremy Cowart to talk about how he deals with criticism, his daily schedule and rhythm, his fears for the future, and what it's like to attempt to raise $2 million on Kickstarter for a hotel that could change the world.

Welcome to the STORY Podcast, a series of unique conversations to fuel the creative class and leave you inspired to do your best, most meaningful work.

As we close out this season of the STORY Podcast, we are also closing out this chapter of STORY Conference. Over the last seven years, this conference has touched thousands of lives and changed the landscape of storytelling. On this episode, we sit down with members of the STORY team to discuss favorite memories from STORY Conferences past. Listen in and come trip down memory lane with us! If you have a favorite STORY memory, we’d love to hear it! Send us a note at harris@storygaterings.com

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.

Are you thinking big enough when it comes to your power? At the heart of being an Amplifier and storyteller, is a desire to chase and hope for impact. Something that moves the needle and creates solutions for the future. As we wrap up the Amplifier portion of this storytelling series, listen as Ben Von Wong explains how he uses a focus on solutions to create change vs. a sole focus on the problem that will make you want to get up and DO for all the right reasons.

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.

As we continue to dive into the storytelling type we call, "The Amplifier,” in this episode we dip into our archives to learn from AJ Hassan. If you aren’t familiar with AJ, you probably are familiar with her work. She is the Emmy Award-winning Executive Creative Director behind the widely recognized #LikeAGirl campaign that challenged gender bias and captured over 150 million views worldwide. A perfect example of an Amplifier, AJ has built an award-winning career on tackling and bringing to light tough topics without fear. A believer that everyone’s story deserves, and must, be told, AJ leverages her role as an advertiser to push the ball of change down the hill, all while compelling people around the world to join. Don’t miss her wisdom in this episode of the STORY Podcast.

What happens if your story doesn't get heard? What if your message doesn't resonate, and falls flat or you don't get the sale?    In this episode, jump into the storytelling type we call, "The Amplifier." We do so by dipping into the STORY archives and listening in on some wisdom from a talk from Ben Stewart, co-founder of Louder Agency. You'll be reminded of story's greatest power, and how to amplify your stories so they connect with others, change hearts and minds and help you achieve your storytelling goals.

After a little break from the podcast, the STORY team is back with an incredible new series of episodes focused on helping you better understand who you are as a storyteller and how to equip yourself to better tell stories that matter. Over the next 6 months, we're going equip you to level up your storytelling skillset and inspire you along the way. Welcome to season 6!

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.