My ten year storytelling anniversary

I’m celebrating an anniversary today:

Ten years ago today, I took the stage at the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe and competed in my first Moth StorySLAM, telling a story about pole vaulting in high school.

It was my first time telling a story on any stage ever. My first step into storytelling.

I almost didn’t tell a story that night. When they called my name, I panicked. I didn’t move, rationalizing that if I remained perfectly still, the host, Dan Kennedy, would eventually toss my name aside and call another.

It had already happened earlier that evening.

Thankfully, Elysha forced me to take the stage, I told my story, and I won.

So began a magical, unexpected, impossible journey.

Ten years later, my life has changed in enormous, fundamental, and miraculous ways thanks to that night. Five minutes on a stage became a nexus point in my life upon which everything pivoted.

You never know when trying something new can change everything.

In the proceeding decade since that first story:

I won 52 more Moth StorySLAMs. 28 in New York City. 21 in Boston. One in Seattle. Three virtually.

I’ve won 7 Moth GrandSLAM championships.

I’ve performed hundreds of times on stages large and small all over the country and the world.

Two years later, Elysha and I launched Speak Up. We’ve produced 86 storytelling shows throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and virtually. Produced more than 100 Speak Up Storytelling podcast episodes. Partnered with organizations like Unified Theater, Compass Youth Collaborative, and Voices of Hope to teach storytelling and produce shows.

Today I operate a thriving consulting company, working with companies like Slack, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, LEGO, Rustic Pathways and many more  to help them tell their stories, market their ideas, sell their products, advertise their wares, train their people, and more. I’ve worked with advertising agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi, designing commercials and campaigns for car companies and consumer products. I’ve worked with school districts, colleges, and universities throughout the country, teaching storytelling to students, faculty, and administrators. I’ve worked with attorneys, comedians, priests, ministers, and rabbis, Santa Clauses, and so many more.

Then there is the crazy stuff:

I’ve served as the substitute minister at Unitarian Universalist Churches.

Taught storytelling on a Mohawk reservation of Canada.

Chatted with Dr. Ruth prior to a TEDx Talk. Performed privately for David Blaine. Shared a green room with Samantha Bee. Chatted with Jesse Eisenberg. Shared a stage with some of my storytelling heroes.

I’ve taught storytelling to a room of 500 prosecutors and the attorney general of Indiana.

Been invited to tell a story naked more than once.

Elysha says the craziest thing of all the things that storytelling has brought me is the work I do at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

I don’t exactly fit their vibe, yet I somehow get along quite well there.

Thanks to storytelling, I’ve been given the chance to write comic books. Pen columns for Parents magazine. Draft television pilots with show runners and documentarians.

I’ve delivered numerous TEDx Talks, inspirational talks, commencement addresses, and more.

I’ve begun performing stand up comedy. Produced one solo show and am working on another. Wrote a book on storytelling that is being used on high school and college campuses around the world.

I’ve watched Elysha become an emcee that other emcees have looked to for advice and counsel. I’ve watch Clara tell her first story to an audience in Seattle. Watched Charlie fall in love with my storytelling improv games.

Best of all, I’ve met some of the most amazing people of my life through storytelling. Made so many new friends.

Tonight, I return to The Moth for my first live StorySLAM since March 3, 2020. I’ll be celebrating my ten year storytelling anniversary at The Bell House in Brooklyn, dropping my name into the hat just like I did ten years ago when I had yet to place my feet upon a stage.

Unlike that first night, I’ll be hoping that my name is chosen.

The moment when I took the stage on that very first night and began speaking, all of the nervousness and fear evaporated. It has yet to return. I found a place where I belonged. Little did I know that I would also find a place that would change my life.

It’s hard to believe it’s only been 10 years.