
Storytelling School
One significant change in business and the world-at-large in the past couple of decades is the rise of the storyteller. Join International Speaking Strategist and Detective of Story Kymberlee Weil each week as she, along with her notable guests, take you behind the curtain to explore the world of first person high stakes storytelling. Each episode is designed to give you tools, techniques and tactics that you can put to use immediately. If you’re ready to be seen, up your speaking game, increase your confidence, grow your audience and expand your influence, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome.
Latest episodes

Sep 27, 2023 • 33min
How Connections and Community Change Your Story
It’s 2012. My software company is working with one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. They have tremendous expertise they can share with their clients. They’re so large, though, that they’re completely siloed and can’t easily share this organizational knowledge quickly. The agency’s chief strategic and chief technology officers have a vision to unite their worldwide employees so they can do this at the drop of a hat. And that’s where my company comes in. We’re hired to work with their CTO to provide instant access to all talent across their organization. We build data bridges to different technologies on different platforms located at different places around the world. It’s some pretty fancy stuff, and we really have to roll up our sleeves on this huge undertaking. Nothing like this has been done before. Once our software is in place, the agency can access the intelligence of everyone in their entire global organizational community for the good of their clients in just a couple of clicks. For them, we created a new story where connecting to talent can be quick, efficient, and a game changer in their business. My special guest today, Etienne de Bruin, has spent a career in software development and inside the C-suite. In this episode of The Storytelling School podcast, you’ll learn how he drives the vision and execution of multiple stories for various organizations around the world and get answers to questions such as: What role does a chief technology officer (CTO) play in the story of a company? And how does Etienne’s company help support the story of CTOs everywhere? What you will learn in this episode: How the common image of a CTO is different than the real story How making connections can change your story How to keep people in a community engaged in sharing stories Who is Etienne? Etienne de Bruin began his career as a software developer in his native South Africa before moving to Germany, where he joined a startup building innovative products in the data encryption space. Then he moved to San Diego, where he managed the supply chain and business intelligence of a biotech startup. From 2005 to 2015, Etienne co-founded a company, where he served as CTO, navigating SaaS product development in a rapidly scaling environment and establishing himself as a highly effective C-level executive. After serving many organizations as advisory board member or CTO, Etienne founded 7CTOs, a peer group and coaching organization supporting CTOs, technical founders, and other executive leaders. Links and Resources: 7CTOs 7CTOs 0111 Conference Etienne de Bruin @etdebruin on Twitter @etdebruin on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Sep 20, 2023 • 28min
When Comedy Meets Choreography in Storytelling
I’m preparing for my 5th-level Black Belt test. As part of the test, we have to create and perform a series of movements - with or without weapons - to show the Grandmaster and test board that we’re capable at this level. Oh, and it has to be 100% unique and created from scratch. So this is high-stakes stuff. I know I need to come up with something that I’ve never done before. Ideas start coming to me and I dismiss them one by one, like train cars passing by. Then, it hits me! I’m a storyteller and an Improv performer. Even though this is a Martial Arts test, I need to tell a story that’s never been told before. Now, this is already an unusual approach since most martial artists aren’t thinking about going to the mat to tell a story. Yet in my case, it needs to happen because this is how I think and who I am. I come up with a fantastic narrative. I’m in Tokyo enjoying my tea when I go over to the window. Suddenly, intruder after intruder comes through it and attacks me! I started doing all types of maneuvers, using household items around me as weapons to disarm and dispose of the invaders. In the end, it’s just me sipping on my glass of tea with all this carnage on the floor around me. And while I can’t prove it, I swear I see a little moisture in the Grandmaster’s eyes… and he normally doesn’t show his emotions. And that’s the power of a great story. You know you’ve done good when your audience can feel what you (or the characters in your story) feel. And that brings me to my special guest today, Sarah Jenkins, who is a master at bringing comedic stories to life without saying a word. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how she does it through choreography and imagery and get answers to questions like: What makes comedic short-form storytelling so special? Why does harder not equate to being better in story form? How can you know why an organic joke (not written on the page) lands for an audience or not? And what kind of mistake should you avoid that a lot of storytellers and speakers make? What you will learn in this episode: What it means to be “in service of the joke” in comedic storytelling Why the steps you take as you tell your story don’t matter What has to be in your story to make it memorable and effective Who is Sarah? Sarah Marie Jenkins is a California native residing in NYC. She has been dance captain and associate choreographer for numerous shows, as well as the choreographer for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, Mr. Mayor on NBC, and Girls 5 Eva on Peacock. Recently, she starred as Peter Pan in the first ever remounting of Jerome Robbins Broadway at the MUNY, as well as in the Cathy Rigby version of the show (as her successor). Before that, Sarah was seen as Jennyanydots in the revival of CATS on Broadway. She has also been on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law & Order: SVU, and performed on the Today Show and Bonnie Hunt Show. Her national tours and musical work include Legally Blonde, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Guys & Dolls, Swing!, Can-Can, Honeymoon in Vegas, and The Nutty Professor (directed by Jerry Lewis). When she’s not working on the stage or screen, Sarah has a successful photography business specializing in headshots for actors of all ages. Links and Resources: @SarahMJenkins on Instagram @SarahJenkinsPhoto on Instagram Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Sep 13, 2023 • 7min
How Storytelling Can Skyrocket Your Success
It’s 2016. I’m putting on a high-stakes speaking and storytelling workshop. One of the attendees “Shawn” is the CEO of a tech company, and he’s not buying the idea of using storytelling to raise money and land deals. I say to him, “Give me two days. But you’ve got to play all in. Are you in?” Despite his skepticism that anything will drastically change for him, he reluctantly agrees. When the workshop concludes, he feels he has a new competitive edge with this storytelling knowledge. Fast forward in time to two weeks ago when we run into “Shawn”. He reveals that he’s practiced that workshop training ever since it ended and landed a life-changing deal with one of the largest software companies in his industry! He completely attributes his success to his ability to what he learned at my workshop: How to tell a great short story. So if you want to know: What powerful insider techniques do great storytellers use to get such great results? And how can you use storytelling as your superpower and get others to choose you in a highly competitive playing field over your competition? Then I’ve got you covered! Today’s episode switches things up a bit. It’s very short and all about the Masterclass I’m offering (I only do this a couple of times a year!) that teaches you how to skyrocket your success with story. What you will learn in the Masterclass: Why stories matter (with proven results) How stories work (with a behind-the-scenes unpacking) What change you can make to any story for dramatic effect What crucial element every story needs What essential question you must ask when using stories for business A little about me: Hi there. I’m Kymberlee. As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives. Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same. If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value. Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place. Links and Resources: Free Masterclass: Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Sep 6, 2023 • 18min
So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Setting Up Your Story
We’re sitting around a fire pit at my Master’s Circle retreat for speakers, looking out at the ocean as the sun is setting. One of our Mastermind members asks: “Kymberlee, what comes before the story?” He continues to elaborate: “Let’s say I’m doing a Keynote. Do I walk on stage and immediately start telling the story, or is there something I say before I start the story?” There are a few impactful ways to bridge into your story. So I start taking him through my ideas as the fire continues glowing in the background. And as I’m sharing, I begin to realize that I need to share this with you and talk about this topic on the podcast! So in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we're continuing our “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” master series where you'll learn seven ways you can transition into your story and get answers to questions like: Why should you keep your story transition short? And what does using all of these bridging techniques do for your audience? What you will learn in this episode: How to use relevance and alignment to bridge to your story fast How to use a mini story to help set up your main story How to use a teaser or curiosity gap as a story bridge A little about me: Hi there. I’m Kymberlee. As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives. Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same. If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value. Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place. Links and Resources: Free Masterclass: Skyrocket Your Success With Storytelling Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Aug 30, 2023 • 27min
The Lessons We Can Learn From True Crime Stories
I’ve just finished speaking at a live event when one of the attendees approaches me and asks: “Was your whole story about the moped accident true?” “Yes,” I reply. “All of it?” he asks incredulously. “Everything you did to get back on the softball mound as a pitcher? The part about using martial arts to get your balance back? And you completely lost your sense of taste and smell?” I affirm that yes, all of it is true. See, he’d been thinking that I made these things up just to enliven my story. I tell him, “Our true stories can often be way better than fiction.” When we look back on our lives, we may discover moments more heroic than any we could have made up. And whether or not the story you’re sharing is true or fiction, it’s the truth within the story that helps our audience learn, gain perspective, and make different choices than they otherwise would’ve made. And that leads me to my special guest today, Wendy Whitman. Wendy is an author and award-winning expert on murder crimes in America. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, she’s here to dig into the world of story through the lens of crime and answer questions like: How do you approach dry subjects (like legal cases) and craft them for better audience engagement? What toll does it take on you to cover murder crimes day in and day out? And how is storytelling different for a TV-viewing audience versus a book-reading one? What you will learn in this episode: How to approach telling a true crime story with care What you can do to help prevent yourself from having your story cut short Why we are captivated by true crime stories Who is Wendy? Wendy Whitman is an author and expert on the subject of murder in the U.S. She worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin before attending Boston University School of Law. After graduating from law school, she embarked on what turned out to be a 20-year career in television covering crime. Fifteen of those years were spent as an executive producer for Court TV. Then Wendy spent another few years on HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter covering almost every major high-profile murder case in the country. During her tenure at Court TV, she received three Telly Awards and two GLAAD nominations. Since turning her attention to writing, she has published two crime thriller novels: Premonition and its sequel Retribution, which was released on July 25, 2023. Links and Resources: Wendy Whitman Premonition and Retribution by Wendy Whitman “Murder is Murder: Lessons Learned from a Dog Meat Trade Survivor” @wendywhitmanauthor on Instagram Wendy Whitman on Facebook Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Aug 23, 2023 • 31min
How Storytelling Creates Opportunities for the Underrepresented
It’s 1999. I’m attending Pepperdine University for my MBA program when I ask myself, “What else can I do?” I decide to learn computer programming at UCLA. In my first class there, I’m sitting in a room filled with other students and realize two things: First, I’m one of only three female students in a class of over 40 people. And second, I love everything about this training and want to learn more! So I start reading books and learning as fast as I can, noticing all the while that there aren’t many female authors and role models in tech. Yet, I’m still hungry to learn as much as I can and want to accelerate my training. Thanks to a magazine ad, I sign up for the Web 99 Conference in San Francisco and listen in fascination to Lynda Weinman talk about Flash technology. It makes me realize that I want to do this for my career. I walk up to her after her Talk to introduce myself and discover she’s holding her first-ever workshop on Flash in Ojai, California. She personally invites me to sign up, and I go for it! Thanks to Lynda’s guidance, I move from that workshop to teaching classes for her, writing two books on Flash technology, running a Flash-focused tech event, and co-founding my own software company. My story changed just from casually taking a computer class in college… and all because someone believed in and opened doors for me. And my special guest today has made it his business to do the same for others. Mike Roberts helps underrepresented people break into tech and companies build high-performance engineering teams out of often overlooked talent. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how creating opportunities for the marginalized can change the trajectory of their story and get answers to questions like: Why does storytelling help those with social anxiety? How does having different skill sets affect the future of your story’s path? And why is software engineering both a science and, like storytelling, an art? What you will learn in this episode: How being a trailblazer can influence other people’s stories (even for generations) How learning to tell stories is like learning how to play an instrument Why it’s better to tell your story in the present tense Who is Mike? Mike Roberts is the founder and CEO of Creating Coding Careers (CCC), an innovative nonprofit organization committed to diversifying the tech community and creating equitable opportunities for individuals pursuing a career in the industry. He is passionate about helping underrepresented people break into tech and helping companies build high-performance engineering teams out of often-overlooked talent. Mike has launched more than 100 student careers and has grads working at IBM/RedHat, Apple, WalmartLabs, Sony, AWS, Facebook, Deloitte, and many more amazing tech companies. His superpower is helping gritty people grow and get better at writing quality software. Links and Resources: Creating Coding Careers @merobertsjr on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Aug 16, 2023 • 28min
Why Saying Yes Opens More Storytelling Doors
I’m on the last day of a five-day, 12-hour daily intensive Improv class at The Annoyance Theatre. Our instructor comes in and has us count off by threes. Once that’s done, he instructs us to find everyone else with the same number. Then he tells us: “Whoever’s in your group, you all are now an Improv team. And you’re going to perform tonight live on the main stage for a public audience.” I’m thinking, “These teams are made up of people I barely know.” They come from all around the world with different backgrounds, styles, strengths, and varying levels of Improv experience. And that’s when I realize that’s what's so cool about this whole thing! We can bring all that to the table in our performance. My made-up-on-the-spot team and I spend the rest of the day creating, refining, rehearsing, and doing it over again, based on our collective suggestions and ideas as a collective. That night, when we hit the stage and show our stuff, it’s a huge success. And I know a big part of it is due to the collective diversity of the group and the openness to learning from each other as well as respecting and honoring everyone’s contribution. Speaking of spotlights and collectives, today’s special guest, Lindsay Ravage, is a veteran of the Improv community in addition to working as an actress. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, she’s here to dive into how the world of Improv can influence you as a storyteller and answer questions such as: Why are you already an experienced Improv storyteller, even if you’ve never performed it on a stage? How does having trust in others influence the ability to create a bigger story? Why is it so important for kids at a young age to learn how to express themselves and be creative in telling stories? And how do shared experiences make for powerful storytelling? What you will learn in this episode: Why saying “yes” opens the door for new stories to occur How an audience’s response to your narrative can affect your storytelling in real-time Why having a first-person point of view makes your story more interesting Who is Lindsay? Growing up just outside of New York City, Lindsay Ravage fell in love with the stage at a young age. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California’s Theatre School and studied at the esteemed British Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She is also a graduate of The Second City Conservatory program and UCB Improv program and has performed Improv all over Los Angeles in various Improvisation and sketch troupes. In addition to still acting in commercials and television, she has worked as a casting associate for some of the most successful commercial casting offices in Los Angeles. Lindsay has also worked with children most of her adult life. But she felt there was a lack of theatre classes in the L.A. area for her own kids. Wanting to create a fun and creative outlet for non-professional kids, she started Tiny Spotlight--Los Angeles’ premiere children’s theater academy that offers musical theater, Improv, and sketch comedy classes to kids aged 3-11. These classes are taught by top-notch directors in a real theatre setting. They’re designed as fun-filled performance experiences to build confidence and let kids know that their ideas are important and what they have to say matters. Tiny Spotlight classes are held at the charming Two Roads Theater in Little Tujunga Village in the heart of Studio City, California, and at The Pico Theatre in West LA. Links and Resources: Tiny Spotlight @tinyspotlight on Instagram @tinyspotlight on Facebook The Annoyance Theatre & Bar Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Aug 9, 2023 • 26min
How Ripples Create Waves When You Share Your Story
It’s circa 2010 and I’m running the software company I co-founded with my husband Mark. One of our clients is among the largest advertising agencies in the world and they’re preparing a big pitch for Nike. The stakes couldn’t be higher for them to win this business. Since our software creates communities and includes a customized matching engine, the Chief Strategy Officer uses it to search for all worldwide employees of his agency who have a passion for photography and clubbing. He finds them instantly within a couple of clicks and gives them a challenge: “Tonight, go to the clubs in your area and take pictures of all the trainers you see.” He wants them to photograph people’s sneakers at the clubs in Berlin, Tokyo, Budapest… wherever they may be. By Monday, they’re able to use those photos to show Nike that they’re able to activate a global community to come together in this way… and also that they have a pulse on what’s happening in youth culture around the world. This way, they can influence what happens next in Nike’s story. Speaking of activating global communities, my guest today, Tyler Skinner, has also spent a good part of her career focusing on bringing women together to create something for the greater good. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how making connections (whether it’s two or three people or more) can be life-changing for a person or a business and get answers to questions such as: How do you take a dire situation and use it to influence or change the stories of others (or create a new one for yourself)? Why is vulnerability as a storyteller not always about sharing sad things? And what can happen when you put your story out there for the first time? What you will learn in this episode: How ripples can turn into waves that expand the stories of multiple people How to shake yourself out of a story you no longer want to experience How naming your year can have a significant impact on you and your story Who is Tyler? Tyler is the CVO and Founder of Connected Communities and Women Making Waves and also serves as President for the Central Coast Chapter of NAWBO (National Organization for Women Business Owners). As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, she has reinvented herself again and again to create and cultivate connections and community collaborations that enhance social & cultural shifts by bringing people together to believe in something bigger than themselves and to see the magic in motivating others. During the 2020 pandemic, she launched the platform Women Making Waves as a leadership development program of dedicated women committed to co-creating a future where they can personally & professionally emerge to lead in a new way. Tyler is building a revolution of women through curated workshops, events, and adventures to allow women to see, do, and be more because women deserve to be supported and seen. Links and Resources: Women Making Waves | @women.making.waves on Instagram Connected Communities National Organization for Women Business Owners (NAWBO) - Central Coast Tyler Skinner (coming soon) | @thetylerskinner on Instagram Storytelling School Podcast: “How to Name Your Year” The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Aug 2, 2023 • 29min
Using Storytelling to Stand Up for What Matters
It’s 2018. I’m working with a Syrian-born American filmmaker named Sam to get him ready to hit the TEDx stage. We’re forming the foundation of his Talk--his idea worth spreading--when I ask him, “Why was making this particular film so important to you?” And he responds, “It’s imperative to amplify the voices of what Syrians are going through. Their voices are muted right now and giving voice to the voiceless should be an obligation. That’s why people literally risked their lives to make this film.” With that, we have his idea worth spreading: For society to survive, the voices of repressed people must be revived. By the way, Sam’s film, Little Gandhi, becomes the first official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film and goes on to win several awards. And most importantly of all, Sam’s willingness to stand up for and speak on what he believes has changed individual and collective stories around the world...which leads me to my special guest today! Lynn Andrews is a versatile artist who has been standing up for what she believes, literally. As a singer, actress, and writer, she has a stake in bringing stories to life as part of her life’s work and is fresh off the picket line protesting as part of the SAG-AFTRA strike. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, listen in as she and I dive into the idea of using your story to stand up and speak up, whether your voice matters at all, and how to influence the stories that are told. You’ll also discover the answer to questions such as: What’s it like participating in a community of storytellers standing up for themselves? What’s one thing you need to be mindful of as you speak up for your cause during a protest or strike? What opportunity can you choose to take with an Improv performance, beyond the humor? And why does your profession not matter when it comes to storytelling? And along the way, you’ll hear about trimmed trees, strongly-worded umbrellas, memorable theater moments, and more! What you will learn in this episode: Why your voice matters in changing an unfolding story Why people sometimes hesitate to speak up with their story How to get an audience to love a villainous character Who is Lynn? Lynn Andrews, an artist excelling as an actor, singer, and writer, was born in Denver, Colorado. Her passion for the arts led her to pursue training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. Lynn won the coveted role of Miss Hannigan in the national tour of Annie. The New York Times praised her, saying she "has a wonderful way with a shimmy." During her time in New York, Lynn showcased her singer-songwriter abilities as one-third of the girl group The Shirtwaist Sisters, highlighted by the NPR Tiny Desk competition. In 2017, Lynn made her way to Los Angeles, where she appeared in popular television shows like The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and Dead To Me, as well as the critically acclaimed film The Dark and the Wicked. Her recent appearances on The Resident and American Auto continue to solidify her status as an accomplished and skillful performer. Links and Resources: @fakelynnandrews on Instagram @fakelynnandrews on Tik Tok The Shirtwaist Sisters on Spotify The Annoyance Theatre & Bar Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Jul 26, 2023 • 28min
How Doing the Unexpected Distinguishes You as a Storyteller
I’m a sixth grader with a dream: I want to be Student Body President. So I get to work on dazzling my fellow students, relentlessly preparing and rehearsing every word of my speech for days and days, night after night… even into the early mornings. And then, the big day arrives. It’s time to give my speech! I’m sitting onstage with two other candidates. Both of them deliver their speeches to huge applause from the student body. Suddenly, I’m next up, and I’m shaking! I nervously get up from my chair, make my way to the podium, place my prepared speech in front of me, and start reading. A few paragraphs in, I notice the restlessness in the auditorium. Some students are looking around the room, others are beginning to talk to their neighbor, and there’s even one guy, Stu, asleep in the front row! I can’t believe what I’m seeing! Instead of treading on with what isn’t working, I take my speech, crumple it up, and throw it onto the floor. Then, I start speaking from my heart... and I hear a smattering of applause. As I continue, the applause gets louder and louder until the entire audience jumps to their feet. I learn a valuable lesson: stop trying to be something you’re not. Just be yourself and share your ideas and what you feel in the moment. That way, you’re memorable in a way others can’t ignore! My guest today, Intae Kim, has lived his life being memorable while bringing various film and TV characters to life. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, he’s here to share how doing the unexpected differentiates you from other speakers and storytellers and allows you to reap the greatest benefits. He also answers questions such as: What attribute is at the core of your audience feeling connected to you? And what does it take to make people fall in love with you as a storyteller? What you will learn in this episode: How to honor the truth in your story in a way that activates you and your audience What one aspect gets other people invested in your story Why some stories fall flat and don’t work Who is Intae? Growing up in the Boston area, Intae Kim was preternaturally interested in stories. As a voracious reader, social parrot, and frequent make-believer, Intae loved learning more about our world and exploring imaginary ones whenever he had the chance. These passions only grew stronger after he traveled across the country. Not only did his initial pursuit of a Cognitive Studies major at UC Berkeley eventually morph into dual degrees in English and Theater, but his subsequent move to Los Angeles led to a career in the Performing Arts. Intae's first big splash in Hollywood took the form of a scene-stealing turn in Monday, a short film that went on to win first place in HBO’s inaugural APA Visionaries Competition. Since then, he has worked on stage, on screen, and in the voiceover booth on projects as varied as Fargo (FX), How to Get Away With Murder (ABC), Succession (HBO), and Tom Clancy’s The Division: Hearts On Fire (Audible). He is grateful for the chance to tell stories for a living and to continue learning more about our world and exploring imaginary ones. Links and Resources: @theintaenet on Twitter Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook