When I took the Moth stage for the first time in July of 2011 to tell my first story, I thought it would be my one and only.
Tell a story. Create a memory. Move on.
I never expected that moment to change my life.
Since then, I’ve told stories in 110 Moth StorySLAMs and 37 GrandSLAMs, winning 61 and 9, respectively. I’ve performed on stages all over the country and around the world and delivered speeches at a dozen TEDx events.
But that was just the beginning.
Today, I work with Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, Olympic athletes, venture capital firms, attorneys, banks, hospitals, clergy members, politicians, the FBI, and more. I help them tell better stories, communicate more effectively, sell more stuff, build more trust, motivate actions, and forge connections.
I also perform stand-up. I serve as a substitute minister for several Universalist Unitarian Churches. I officiate weddings. I’ve helped the Mowak nation of Canada to tell better stories. Taught storytelling classes for dating. Worked with wildlife photographers to tell better stories in the photos they shoot. Taught storytelling at yoga retreat centers and universities like Yale, Harvard, MIT, and many more.
It’s so weird how a simple decision can redirect your life forever.
Charlie and I will be in Nashville on Saturday night for my latest adventure:
Music Night: Live from Nashville:
Songwriters of some of the music industry’s biggest hits will take the stage to perform their songs and tell stories about their creations.
I had the honor of offering the songwriters some advice on the stories they will be telling.
The show will be streaming live to select AMC Theaters on Saturday night— tonight! — if you’re reading this on the day it was published. If you see the show (and you should), you might see Charlie and me in the audience. I’ve been told that as in-studio audience members, we will likely be seen on screen as part of the show.
Charlie is very excited. Me, too.
A description of the show is thus:
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Discover the unknown songwriters behind radio’s biggest hits in this exclusive LIVE broadcast from Nashville!
Join host Bobby Bones (Radio, Podcast & TV Personality) as he takes you inside the Analog—one of Music City’s most intimate and sought-after listening rooms, for a special night of stories and songs in a rare performance by three of Nashville’s hottest songwriters who collectively have written more than 40 number-one songs recorded by 20 different artists, including some of the biggest names in country music and beyond: Carrie Underwood, Jellyroll, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, Trisha Yearwood, and many more!
Experience the magic of a Nashville Writer’s Round as you hear the inspiration and creative process from CMA and Grammy® award-winning hit songwriters whose work spans genres and generations in this incredible one-of-a-kind LIVE broadcast event.
Presented by the Nashville Music Network.
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Another unexpected, unforeseen, unbelievable turn of events led from a single night on a single stage 14 years ago.
A reminder to me and perhaps to you:
Get out. Say yes. Try new things. Do hard, scary things. Give the universe a chance to work its magic on your behalf.
