Storytelling School

Kymberlee Weil
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Storytelling School Podcast

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.

  1. 5 SEPT

    How the Price of Admission in Storytelling Creates Deeper Audience Connection

    I’m coaching multiple speakers for an upcoming TEDx event. During the kickoff meeting with one particular speaker, I ask him, “Okay, what’s your idea worth spreading?” He replies, “Kymberlee, that’s easy. I’m going to talk about the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.”  I think, “Wait, what? If this is what you’re focusing on for your TEDx Talk, we definitely need to make 30-year fixed-rate mortgages interesting and shift the audience’s perspective because this isn’t a very sexy topic.”  So I ask him, “All right. What’s your earliest memory related to money?” He tells me, “Well, when I was little, I used to go door-to-door selling acacia flowers. That’s when I first realized that people would exchange dollars for something they value.”  I stop him right there and say, “That’s the story we need to tell. It’s how the audience will connect with you.” Once an audience cares about you, you’ve earned the right to teach them about what you care about. So he delivers his TEDx Talk and opens with his acacia flower story. Last week, his Talk hit one million views! And perhaps many of those viewers’ perspectives on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have changed as a result. Speaking of which, my guest Josh Lowman changes the public's point of view often and affects change with every organization and brand he works with. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of multiple story viewpoints, the price of admission in storytelling to create a deeper connection with your audience, and more. Josh will also answer questions such as: How can you think about point-of-view in story in a different way? What effect does authentic vulnerability in storytelling have on a platform where that’s not typically expressed (like LinkedIn)? And why is change an essential element for stories? What you will learn in this episode: Why switching point-of-view is a powerful tool in capturing your audience’s attention What admission price in storytelling is necessary to grow and resonate with an audience How you can become a much better writer and improve your storytelling sentence-by-sentence Who is Josh? Josh Lowman is the founder and CEO of Gold Front, a category design studio based in San Francisco, California. He has worked with more than 40 C-suite executives and teams to create new categories and market them to their customers. He believes that category design and creation provide the path for business owners and CEOs to cut through the noise and reach their audience. Links and Resources: Gold Front @joshlowman on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    27 min

  2. 28 AUG

    Why Storytelling Belongs in the Classroom and Boardroom

    I’m running a high-energy speaker training event, and everyone is buzzing with excitement as we stand in a circle, introducing ourselves. Each attendee shares their role and a fun fact. Among them is a CEO of a tech company who loves bagels, a marketing director obsessed with villas in Rome, and an entrepreneur who just secured his first round of funding.  The introductions continue, one after another, until it’s time for my team to introduce themselves. Our first team member steps forward and says, “Hi, I’m Sandy Zabarsky. I’ve spent the last 27 years in prison and just got out.”  The room falls silent. I can feel the weight of all eyes on me, then shifting to each other, and back to me.  Sandy continues, “I served as an educator and administrator in juvenile halls and juvenile camps. Today, I’m here to help turn your challenges into stories your audience will never forget.”  A collective breath is released from the room. You see, Sandy happens to be my mom. She was an English major and dedicated her career to helping the underdog–particularly disadvantaged youth entangled in the criminal justice system. She assisted these kids in earning their GED, offering them a glimmer of hope and a chance at a different story. Throughout her career, my mom impacted the lives of thousands of kids. Her unwavering commitment to changing their narrative and giving them a new possibility transformed their futures, making them very different from the ones they had while inside the system. There are so many like my mom out there, including my special guest Alfonso Paz. He brings to life a different possibility for the people he works with whether they’re students, educators, or business owners. And through his company Vibix Learning, he is transforming education by helping to create healthier, more inclusive school environments. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of storytelling in education, business, and personal growth. Alfonso will share his experience of using storytelling to pitch to investors and the impact its made, discuss the effectiveness of short-form storytelling, and so much more. He’ll also answer questions such as: How does storytelling help bridge emotional gaps and foster compassion? Why is short-form storytelling particularly effective in high-stakes environments? And why is the struggle such an essential part of the storytelling process?  What you will learn in this episode: How storytelling creates deeper connections and fosters compassion that spurs action Why concise stories effectively convey messages to engage audiences  How storytelling can be used to help enhance emotional intelligence Who is Alfonso? For close to 30 years, Alfonso Paz has been helping underrepresented students and families in Los Angeles’s East Hollywood area have greater opportunities and access to college and other post-secondary options. He is the co-founder and CEO of Vibix Learning, which transforms education by enhancing emotional well-being through its innovative Collective Care Continuum (C3) model, integrating emotional intelligence and mental wellness support to create healthier, more inclusive school environments. Alfonso’s experiences have solidified his belief that it does take an entire village to raise a child to be a successful contributing member of society. He believes that while traditional schools can provide a foundation for positive change, the strong partnerships between families, schools, and communities will provide a greater influence on a student's life and prepare them to contribute to a united, stronger, and healthier society. Through Vibix Learning, he recognized that the greatest effect he could have would be to "re-teach" educators how to listen to the students and staff, recognize everyone’s needs, and define the best way forward for each student and staff member. Once schools and administrators saw his methods' incr

    31 min

  3. 21 AUG

    How the Power of Play Can Change a Challenging Story

    My husband and I are driving to the airport for a family reunion when we both get pings on our phones. There’s a global outage. We check our tickets and plane reservations–they’re all fine. We head to the airport, and everything seems okay. The airline confirms our flight is on time, so we’re good to go. An hour later, we get a delay, yet they assure us everything will be fine. Another hour passes and there’s another delay. They tell us again that we’ll make our connecting flight, and everything will be okay. Finally, we board the plane. It takes off and lands at LAX, where we discover we’ve missed our connecting flight. They promise us they’ll put us on another one. My dad is texting, worried about the global outage. I reassure him that we’re fine and on the next flight…except that flight gets canceled, too, as does the next one. Around us, people are angry, yelling into their phones, and sleeping on the floor. Others are shouting at the airline staff who can’t do much about the situation. At this point, I turn to my husband and ask, “What if this were fun?” From that moment, we strive to make it fun. We start trekking through five terminals until we find the AmEx Lounge. We get playful and interact with people in character, indulge in some childhood comfort food of grilled cheese, and end up laughing and having a great time. Fifteen hours later, with the global outage continuing, we return home having never reached our destination. However, we chose to make the experience fun when everyone else seemed to be falling apart. My special guest, Sebastian Conelli, is an incredible actor, comedian, improviser who knows a thing or two about having fun. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the power of choosing to have fun and be playful, even in challenging situations. You’ll also discover how to create connections with your audience, the value of being vulnerable and sharing one's inner thoughts and feelings in storytelling, and get answers to questions like: How can awareness and being present in the moment enhance the impact of a story or performance? What are some specific ways in which Improv can enhance public speaking and personal confidence? And what techniques can you use to ensure that an audience connects with unusual or unexpected behaviors in a story?  What you will learn in this episode: How your approach to a situation can transform the story of your experience How Improv helps you stay grounded and make stories more impactful and authentic How personal challenges and experiences can be transformed into compelling narratives Who is Sebastian? Sebastian Conelli is an actor, comedian and improviser from New York. Sebastian has been performing and teaching improv for over 13 years. Sebastian is a part of the legendary improv team The Stepfathers (UCB), the best improv show in NY Raaaatscraps, and is a cast member of the longest-running improv show in NY, Asssssscat (UCB). Sebastian is the host of the successful podcast LOUD ABOUT NOTHING. You also might have seen Sebastian doing small parts on Max, Apple TV, Netflix, and in the 2024 Palme D'or winner Anora.  Links and Resources @sebastianconelli on Instagram Loud About Nothing RaaaatScraps Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    29 min

  4. 17 JUL

    How Sharing Raw Stories Can Provide Healing and Hope

    I’m working with a new client, Leonard, who is completely new to first-person true storytelling. He has lived through several unbelievable situations, and I know others need to hear his stories. So I challenge him to tell a story to open his next podcast. He responds: “I can’t do that. My listenership will drop if I do.” When I ask him why, he says, “No one’s going to care about my story.” Yet, what if only one person needs to hear your story to change their life? After I pose that question to Leonard, he reluctantly agrees and shares one of his craziest stories on his next episode. The response? Several listeners emailed him saying things like: “Your story was exactly what I needed to hear today.” “Your story reminded me of a similar situation I went through.” “Your story has given me the courage to tell my story.” We tell our stories in service to others, and it takes bravery to be vulnerable with your story. Leonard did it, as did my guest today, Krishnni Khanna. She has told her real raw story on both the TEDx stage and in her newly released book, simply because she wants to help others. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about the importance of sharing difficult stories as a way to process experiences and help others feel less alone. Krishnni will share her story of ostracization as a young girl who migrated to the U.S., as well as answer questions such as: What can happen as a result of sharing your vulnerable story? Why are the words you use in your Talk or story so important? And what’s a really powerful way to end a speech or story? What you will learn in this episode: Why personal stories serve as powerful hooks for your speech How to use words and visual descriptions to enhance your stories How to instill inspiration and motivation in others through your raw stories Who is Krishnni? Krishnni Khanna was born in India in 2007 and moved to the United States with her parents in 2017. She’s a high schooler, author, and TEDx speaker who advocates for the inner well-being of youth. In 2022, she created Detoximind (www.detoximind.com), a student-led movement through which Krishnni and her team bring peer-based support to teens and youth grappling with stress, shame, exclusion and isolation. She currently resides in Austin, Texas with her parents and their puppy Yuki. Krishnni’s first novel I AM NOT WHO YOU SEE launched in June 2024. Many of the protagonist’s experiences in the book are inspired by Krishnni’s highs and lows as a 10-year-old immigrant in America, and how she rebuilt her sense of self and regained her identity in her new surroundings. Links and Resources Krishnni Khanna I AM NOT WHO YOU SEE by Krishnni Khanna “How Does a Lie Become True?” | Krishnni Khanna | TEDxYoungstown @krishnni-khanna on LinkedIn @krishnnikhanna on Instagram Detoximind Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    22 min

  5. 10 JUL

    How Storytelling Can Transform Awareness

    It's 2017, and I'm meeting with our TEDxSantaBarbara team, preparing to plan our next year's TEDx event. As we start discussing the hundreds of speaker applications we've received, it feels incredibly hard to narrow down our selections with so many wonderful candidates. That's when it hits me. What if we focus on the idea first and the person second? In other words, what if we identify the most important and urgent ideas we want to cover and then consider all the applications, recommendations, and research to find the strongest person with subject matter expertise in that area? Our team loves this approach, and we immediately engage in healthy dialogue, even debate, about which ideas our world and our community need the most right now. One of the ideas that rises to the top of the list unanimously is human trafficking. Fast forward many months later, the speaker we choose delivers an incredible Talk, not only highlighting the issue of human trafficking but also discussing actionable solutions. And now her TEDxSantaBarbara Talk has earned over 400,000 views and counting. This means more than just a number; it signifies that by sharing her Idea Worth Spreading, she has initiated change on a global scale. This means change in awareness, change in mindset, and change in action.  My special guest today is that very same speaker. Megan Rheinschild is Director of the Victim Assistance Program at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and directs the Countywide Sexual Assault Response Team, which provides medical-legal forensic exams and advocacy to survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual assault. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we’ll explore the issue of human trafficking and the power of storytelling in raising awareness and creating change and get answers to questions such as: What are some common misconceptions of human trafficking? How can storytelling foster empathy and understanding? And what can the average person do to make a difference?  What you will learn in this episode: How human trafficking can occur in any community or city Why it’s difficult to break free from exploitation when trafficking victims form a bond with their traffickers How storytelling is a powerful tool in raising awareness and creating empathy How we can make a difference by providing love, acceptance, and support to vulnerable individuals Who is Megan? Megan Rheinschild serves as the Director of the Victim Assistance Program at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office. In this role, she oversees a countywide initiative that delivers comprehensive services, support, and advocacy for victims of violent crime and their families. Ms. Rheinschild has been instrumental in forming the Human Trafficking Victim Advocacy Program and establishing the multi-agency Countywide Human Trafficking Task Force in 2013. This task force aims to identify and investigate human trafficking cases and address the complex needs of survivors through collaborative efforts with local, regional, and state partners. Additionally, she directs the Countywide Sexual Assault Response Team, a partnership involving Law Enforcement, Public Health, Rape Crisis Centers, and Child Welfare Services. This team provides medical-legal forensic exams and advocacy to survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual assault. Links and Resources Megan Rheinschild: Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) The Face of Human Trafficking | Megan Rheinschild TEDx Santa Barbara Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    30 min

  6. 12 JUN

    How Surrender, Resiliency and Reconciliation Create Impactful Storytelling

    I’m on stage performing at Santa Barbara Improv. My scene partner and I are playing a game of He Said, She Said which goes like this: After every line of dialogue from one person, their scene partner will then narrate something physical for them to do. For instance, let’s say that I say to my scene partner, “I’m so angry at you right now.” My partner then narrates something like, “She said while jumping up and down on one foot.” And I actually have to do the thing. So we’re in the middle of a mob scene digging a hole, and my partner says, “She says while taking a cigar out of her back pocket and lighting it.” Being a dedicated athlete my whole life, I never learned how to light a cigar. So when I pretend to do it, I fumble around with it which causes the audience to lose it so much that my scene partner keeps on narrating me lighting cigars. Pretty soon, I’m losing it too, almost crying because I’m trying to hold in my laughter so much. It turned into a delightful disaster on stage, yet one that ends up being one of my funniest bits.  My special guest today can certainly relate. Polo Reo Tate is a comedian herself as well as an author, actress, keynote speaker, philanthropist, podcaster, and so much more. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear how she champions authenticity and resiliency through storytelling and beyond and get answers to questions such as: Why do you have an innate Improv storytelling ability? How do the rules of Improv storytelling mirror the rules of life? How does reconciling within yourself the low points of your life impact your power as a speaker and storyteller? And what role does your physicality play in enhancing your stories? What you will learn in this episode: Why you have to get your story on paper, even if you never share it  How you can get unusual story inspiration from mundane situations How craft and intuition interconnect when preparing and giving a presentation Who is Polo? As an author by soul, actor by trade, artist at heart, and uplifter to the core of her being, Polo Reo Tate redefines what it means to be a Renaissance Woman. From a myriad of life experiences, she intimately understands the transformational value in mindfully getting to know ourselves wholly and love ourselves unconditionally in order to live fully in the freedom of our own authenticity. Her supreme love for people, and the clarity with which she sees and celebrates the superpowers of those around her, allows her to help elevate the energy of any relationship or situation brought forth by a client.  Whether she is in front of a camera, a crowd, or the company of one, Polo revels in the kinetic web of creativity that is born from every interaction, every co-creation. She lives each moment to the fullest, lets no one take her joy, and avidly operates from the belief that we can do anything upon which we set our minds, hearts, and spirits. She welcomes and invites you to embrace your own infinite possibility, embody the loving being that you are, and feel the power and the pleasure of being fully present in your own life. Links and Resources Polo Reo Tate Books by Polo Tate “How to find Comedy, Joy, and Fulfillment in Life” | Polo Reo Tate | TEDxYoungstown @ThePoloREOTateChannel on Youtube Soulgasm podcast @PoloReoTate on Facebook @polot8 on X/Twitter @poloreotate on Instagram @poloreotate on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    31 min

  7. 7 JUN

    How to Turn Questions into Storytelling Opportunities: The Handshake Technique

    “Kymberlee, how are you always able to take questions and turn them into storytelling opportunities?” That’s the question my client Claire asks me as we’re getting her ready for a big keynote presentation. As I’m quickly thinking about how to answer her, I realize that I mostly do it unconsciously. Yet I know that’s not really a helpful answer, so I replay in my mind the times I’ve recently turned a question into a story. Then it hits me: I’ve been building bridges from questions asked to times in my life that are in some way related to the questions… during handshake moments.  So I explain my thought process to Claire who, during our next coaching sessions, reports that she’s been binging on my technique to great fun and success. She feels like every time she turns a question into a storytelling opportunity, her connection with that other person goes deeper faster. In this installment of the “Storytelling 7 Series” on the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how you can turn questions into storytelling opportunities, too. I’ll also answer questions like: How can you understand the concept of a handshake as it relates to questions and storytelling? What practical tips can help you improve your storytelling skills with the Handshake Technique? And how do you make your story responses more engaging and relatable using this technique? What you will learn in this episode: How to connect questions to stories using the Handshake Technique How to hone your storytelling skills by classifying and building story arsenals How to make storytelling through this technique more natural and effective 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: Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    12 min

  8. 29 MAY

    Shifting the Mental Health Story Within the World of Aviation (and Beyond)

    It feels like I’m flying all the time while running my software company. Every month, I’m going somewhere to meet clients.  It’s standard practice until, out of nowhere, I have my first anxiety attack. These attacks become serious and start happening randomly on different days at different times of the day. Weeks and months go by, and every single time I step on the plane, an attack triggers. While I’ve been flying on planes my entire life, I find myself having to take medication just to step on to an aircraft. As I’m searching everywhere looking for answers to get to the bottom of what’s going on, I meet with a therapist, Dr. Keith. He asks me a simple question: “Kymberlee, do you think pilots have a fear of flying?” Sounds like a preposterous question, right? So I respond: “Of course not!” Then he advises me to ask the pilot on my next flight what their favorite thing is about flying. I do exactly that. With my heart racing, I board my next flight and ask if I can say a quick hello to the pilot. As I’m having a conversation in the cockpit with this pilot, I quickly learn that his favorite part is the landings. Suddenly, I go from having heart palpitations to laughing and smiling and learning so much about the craft of flying. In the months (and flights) that follow my perspective on flying changes so much that eventually I don’t even need to take the medication anymore. His story changes my story. Speaking of aviation and stories, my special guest, Reyné O'Shaughnessy, is a retired commercial airline pilot and captain with intimate knowledge of mental health. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about the importance of changing the story within the aviation world (and beyond) as it relates to mental health, as well as get answers to questions like: How does the story within the aviation industry regarding changes in mental wellness policy need shifting? And why is it so important to share your stories publicly in the world? What you will learn in this episode: Why the collective mental health story in aviation needs to change How we can adopt a better story through shared responsibility How to prevent your mental health from turning into a story of mental illness Who is Reyné? Captain (ret.) Reyné O'Shaughnessy stands as a prominent figure within the aviation industry for her unwavering dedication to both pilots and the aviation industry. With a remarkable 35-year career as a commercial airline pilot, she has accumulated a vast reservoir of experience, expertise, and proficiency with flight time exceeding 10,000 hours on heavy jet aircraft. Beyond the cockpit, Captain O'Shaughnessy has devoted over a decade to honing her skills as an aviation strategist, with a specific focus on health and mental wellness. Her dedication led her to become a certified practitioner in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from Brown University. She founded Piloting 2 Wellbeing and co-founded The Aviation Health and Wellbeing Institute, and her holistic approach to aviation has solidified her position as a trailblazer and influencer within the industry. In addition, Captain O'Shaughnessy is the author of the best-selling book, This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot's Mental Health. Her insights have been featured on reputable platforms such as Fox News, NBC News, CBS/KDKA, and AOPA, and she is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide. Links and Resources Captain Reyné O Piloting 2 Wellbeing The Aviation Health and Wellbeing Institute This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot’s Mental Health by Reyné O'Shaughnessy @captain_reyneo on Instagram @piloting2wellbeing on Twitter/X @piloting2wellbeing on Facebook @piloting2wellbeing on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

    29 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Kymberlee Weil
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Storytelling School

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