storyOS

Latest Episodes:

Being Brave in Our Dark Moments: A Conversation with John Bucher Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

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.

The Upside to Creating Bad Art with Seth Worley Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

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.

Understanding Your ‘Why’ in the Midst of Career Disappointments with Cress Williams Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

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.

Brooke Shaden on Finding Beauty in Hard Times Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

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.

Fighting Cynicism in Storytelling with Dr. Chené Swart Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

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.

The True Power of Marketing with Stories with Ben Stewart Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

There are two kinds of marketers out there. The first are the Don Drapers—the guys who know how to package lies to turn profits. Certainly an easy way to make money, but it takes a toll on your soul, right? The second kind wants to help people tell a better story about their lives, their hopes, their work. They want to help the world see your work the way you see your work. Ben Stewart is that kind of guy, and helps storytellers understand that if you want to leverage the power of story to convert, you have to lead with story’s greatest power: it's ability to connect. Don't miss this practical, wisdom-packed episode of the STORY Podcast.

Shabazz Larkin on Your "Purpose" As a Creator Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

Finding your purpose is a huge deal — for everyone, obviously, but younger generations are especially pursuing purpose-driven work. A Society for Human Resource Management study found that 94 percent of Millennials want to use their skills to benefit a cause. Another survey found that 63 percent of millennials believe the primary purpose of companies should be to make a difference instead of make a profit.

But artist and author Shabazz Larkin has a surprising take on the subject, suggesting that what we’re really looking for isn’t exactly purpose, but something else. Listen in...he might just change your mind on what we talk about when we talk about purpose.

How to Use Story to See in the Dark with Marc Pimsler Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

I think most of us are aware of the idea of story as a passion, a skill, and maybe a career. But what about story as survival? What about story as a way of finding your way when all else seems to be lost? There are times when story is sort of like the trail of breadcrumbs we leave in the forest. No matter how dark things get or how far we wander, we’ve got something to lead us back home to hope and safety.

That’s the theory of Marc Pimsler, an Experiential Therapist, leading voice in Emotional and Mental Health, and a leader at Onsite Workshops, a Personal Growth and Wellness Retreat Center in Nashville. Last year at STORY 2020, Marc gave a talk about story as a way to see in the dark, and it’s one of the most powerful, convicting ways of thinking about story we’ve heard yet. Listen in.

The Difference Between Hope & Despair Is a Story with Krish Kandiah Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

Some stories are a way of making sense of the world. Life can seem confusing or random, so we fit all the details into a story to help us figure out what’s going on. That’s useful, as long as we’re telling beautiful, compassionate, loving stories. But sometimes, lazy stories get told that write off other people’s experiences with prejudice or stereotypes. That’s something Krish Kandiah is out to change. He is the Founder and Director of the adoption and fostering charity Home for Good, and he wants to make sure that the kids in the adoption and foster care systems aren’t abandoned to bad stories. There’s so much we all can learn from his work as storytellers, and he has some incredible stories of his own. Listen in on this week's episode of the Story Podcast.

OnBeing Creative Director Erin Collasaco on Storytelling for Societal Transformation Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

There’s still this idea that we’re living in an extra dark time, that things are bad, worst year ever...that sort of thing. That’s because stories — even macro-level stories — don’t just change on their own. We need storytellers to help us learn how to tell better stories. We need people who care about story to help us set a new, better narrative. That’s something Erin Collasaco is passionate about.

She’s the creative director at OnBeing, a media and public life initiative that’s all about helping people change on a personal level in a way that makes societal transformation better. They’re all about helping us live out better stories, and that’s something Erin wants to help us all do. But, according to her, finding the right story isn’t always as intuitive as you might think. Listen in on some of what she shared with us in her amazing talk last September at STORY.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected