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Reviews & Testimonials

I’ve taken both the beginning and advanced storytelling classes that Matt teaches. Both were excellent and full of great information.  Matt employs his wealth of knowledge and experience to create a safe, supportive and inspirational learning environment for storytellers of any level. As an added bonus, I found the other students to also be both interesting and encouraging. Overall I cannot emphasize enough what a great experience I had and I know I’ll be taking the advanced class again soon. 

Jeff Vibes

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Matthew Dicks was the featured speaker at our company Holiday Party. He did his usual bang up job at storytelling – but in addition, gleaned enough information from our conversations preceding the event to create a wrap up that really hit home with the employees. I didn’t even know he was going to do that, but it perfectly married his final story to the jobs that our employees do on a day-to-day basis. It ended the whole event on a poignant and intimately personal note for each person in the room. Thanks Matt!

Karl Gnadt: CEO Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District

Matt is my mentor, even though he doesn't acknowledge this, or even know it. I first saw him tell a story at Real Art Ways and wanted to be like him. Not just like him, but like him: genuine, fearless, a bit foolish (in the best ways of being foolish). I'm not there yet, but he has accepted me as his student from time to time, and each time, I am the better for it. One of my great life experiences is after telling my first stage story, Matt sat next to me, like we were in the locker room after a big game, he as coach, me as player, and he said, "That was really good Chris. Really good." I return to that moment often.

Christopher P. Kriesen, Esq.

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I am a follower (my wife says “stalker”) of Matthew’s YouTube channel and watch his winning Moth stories over and over.  I arranged for Matthew to speak at my company’s annual management leadership meeting, placing him in the clean-up position (last) of a very long day of presentations and break-out sessions.  The theme of the day was “Embracing Change”  and I asked him to speak for 15-20 minutes.  That was all the information he needed.  He was phenomenal!  He captured my day-weary colleagues instantly, led them down a path filled with humor and emotion, and tied the theme of the day together with a great big beautiful bow.  To this day, I still get compliments on my choice of motivational speaker for this meeting.  Book him for your next speaking engagement!  You will not regret it!

Tim Schult

Matt is my mentor, even though he doesn't acknowledge this, or even know it. I first saw him tell a story at Real Art Ways and wanted to be like him. Not just like him, but like him: genuine, fearless, a bit foolish (in the best ways of being foolish). I'm not there yet, but he has accepted me as his student from time to time, and each time, I am the better for it. One of my great life experiences is after telling my first stage story, Matt sat next to me, like we were in the locker room after a big game, he as coach, me as player, and he said, "That was really good Chris. Really good." I return to that moment often.

Christopher P. Kriesen, Esq.

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I first read Matt’s Storyworthy book before taking both his beginner and advanced storytelling classes.  I did not aspire to tell a story on stage (although maybe one day) but wanted instead, to learn from Matthew how to tell a better story as a way to be more relatable and motivational to my staff at work.  He is able to teach you how to boil your story down to its elements like only an elementary school teacher can, and then gives you tips and tricks on how best to rebuild that story to your desired effect.  I have fashioned some of my stories using Matt’s techniques to good results at work but none better than the recent experience of sharing some memories of my father at his memorial service.  I wouldn’t have been able to get through that without Matt’s worthwhile lessons and instruction.  It proved to be a worthy tribute in his honor.  Thank you, Matt!  Sign-up for his classes, learn from the Master Storyteller!!

Tim