Telling Better Stories

Jason Kakpo-Moore
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Books

I love writing poetry and short stories and the best way to enjoy this podcast is by closing your eyes ("when it is safe") for the fullest listening experience. 

  1. 3d ago

    If Love Asked : {Poem + Full Podcast}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. This poem has a different emotional weight from your first piece. Where “I Don't Want to Live a Life of Highlights”challenges perfection and celebrates individuality, this poem explores the sacrifices we willingly make for love, the irrationality of devotion, and the painful truth that loving someone means accepting that one day we may lose them. Your strongest creative decision is making love feel like a bill we willingly agree to pay, even when we know the final cost. Let's break it down using your Original Poetry — Master Keywords + Casting Analysis framework. Original Poetry • Spoken Word • Philosophical / Emotional / Reflective Love & Sacrifice Family Vulnerability Loss 1. Project identification Work type: Original Poetry / Original Written WorkPrimary genre: Contemporary Spoken-Word PoetrySecondary genres: Philosophical Poetry, Emotional Storytelling, Reflective Poetry, Inspirational PoetryCentral concept: The sacrifices people willingly make for those they love, even when love comes with pain, exhaustion, uncertainty, and eventual loss.Core message: Love is not always logical. It is instinctive, emotional, and powerful enough to make us repeatedly choose sacrifice.Intended audience: Adults, parents, spouses, caregivers, grandparents, and anyone who has experienced profound love or loss.Performance format: Intimate spoken-word narration with a gradual emotional build.2. Core meaning and thematic analysis Your poem opens with an arresting idea: “When it comes to love we are all fools left holding the check…”This is the poem's central metaphor. Love becomes a transaction in which the people who love most deeply are willing to accept the bill, even when they cannot predict the cost. The poem then builds its argument through recognizable sacrifices: climbing impossible heights, enduring financial hardship, losing sleep, missing meals, and putting aside personal comfort to care for family. The examples become progressively more intimate. Children: A parent's instinct to put everything aside when a child is hurt.Spouse: The anxiety of waiting to know that a loved one is safe and healthy.Grandparents: The longing to hold someone again and preserve the memories of a generation.These examples make the poem relatable because they move love beyond romantic relationships. Love becomes a force that connects generations and shapes everyday decisions. The rhetorical question, “And why? Why go through this?”, introduces the philosophical heart of the piece. The answer is not that people are stupid. Rather, love operates beyond rational calculation. We accept sacrifices because the person matters more to us than the comfort we surrender. The closing thought introduces the poem's deepest tension: we choose love despite knowing that loss is ultimately part of loving someone. 3. Voice identity Primary voice Warm, intimate, emotionally grounded, reflective, sincere, compassionate, conversational, vulnerable, mature, thoughtful, resonant, empathetic, and authentic. Vocal archetype: The Reflective Truth-Teller This poem calls for a storyteller who understands that love can be beautiful and exhausting at the same time. The voice should not sound like someone explaining love from a distance. It should sound like someone who has considered what love demands of us and recognizes those sacrifices in their own life. Your natural conversational qualities can help make the poem feel personal rather than overly theatrical. Key performance principle: Let the experiences carry the emotion. You do not need to force sadness into every line. 5. Emotional profile The poem's emotional progression is: 01 Wry recognition We willingly accept the cost of loving someone. 02 Determination We endure hardship and inconvenience for the people who matter. 03 Vulnerability Illness, uncertainty, and family needs expose what we fear losing. 04 Relief and gratitude The people we love recover, return, or remain with us. 05 Bittersweet acceptance Love remains worth choosing despite the reality of eventual loss. Overall emotional trajectory: Wry → Determined → Vulnerable → Relieved → Tender → Bittersweet. 6. Poetic and literary style Extended metaphor: Love as a bill, debt, or price we agree to pay.Rhetorical questions: “And why?” and “Why go through this?” invite the listener to examine their own experience.Accumulation: The succession of sacrifices creates a growing emotional weight.Parallel structure: Repeated examples of what people will endure for loved ones reinforce the central argument.Concrete imagery: A child's injury, a spouse's heartbeat, and a grandparent's embrace make abstract love tangible.Contrast: The apparent foolishness of love versus its profound emotional value.Generational perspective: Children, spouses, and grandparents illustrate love across different family relationships.Bittersweet resolution: The poem acknowledges that meaningful love and the possibility of loss are inseparable.7. Casting analysis CASTING PROFILE The Intimate, Emotionally Grounded Storyteller An African American male voice, approximately 30–55, with warmth, maturity, emotional depth, and a natural conversational quality. Vocal qualities Warm, resonant, grounded, smooth, sincere, expressive, intimate, measured, articulate, and emotionally nuanced. Personality Compassionate, reflective, dependable, observant, empathetic, thoughtful, protective, and authentic. Performance style Naturalistic, conversational, narrative-driven, emotionally restrained, gradually building, intimate, and reflective. Casting rationale The piece benefits from a voice capable of conveying care without sentimentality, sadness without melodrama, and conviction without preaching. The performance must communicate that love is a lived experience rather than an abstract philosophy. 8. Master keywords Refined keyword bank, emphasizing distinct casting and performance qualities. Vocal identity Warm, resonant, intimate, conversational, grounded, sincere, expressive, articulate, natural, smooth, empathetic, personable. Performance Spoken-word, storytelling, reflective, narrative, measured, deliberate, emotionally nuanced, naturalistic, immersive, restrained, compelling, rhythmic. Emotion Tender, vulnerable, compassionate, bittersweet, heartfelt, devoted, poignant, loving, protective, grateful, melancholic, reassuring. Personality Thoughtful, mature, authentic, dependable, observant, self-aware, sincere, patient, emotionally intelligent, relatable. Themes and literary style Love, sacrifice, family, devotion, caregiving, parenthood, marriage, legacy, mortality, remembrance, loss, gratitude, human connection, philosophical, contemporary, free verse, rhetorical, metaphorical, introspective. 9. VO casting opportunities This poem could showcase skills relevant to: Spoken-word and poetry narrationAudiobook narration, especially reflective nonfiction and memoirDocumentary and human-interest storytellingHealthcare and caregiving narrativesFamily-centered brand storytellingPublic-service and social-impact campaignsInspirational podcastsGrief, remembrance, and legacy projectsThe most transferable VO skill here is your ability to sustain an intimate connection with a listener while moving through several emotional states without losing the naturalness of your delivery. 10. Master casting summary Cast an African American male, approximately 30–55, with a warm, grounded, emotionally intelligent voice and a sincere, conversational delivery. He should communicate the complexity of love through restrained vulnerability, quiet conviction, and compassionate storytelling. The performance begins with wry recognition, builds through the sacrifices people make for family, and resolves in a tender, bittersweet reflection on devotion and loss. Avoid excessive sentimentality; the emotional power should emerge from specificity, pacing, and authentic human connection. 11. Master poetry tag African American Male • Warm • Intimate • Conversational • Emotionally Grounded • Reflective • Compassionate • Vulnerable • Sincere • Spoken-Word Storytelling • Love • Sacrifice • Family • Devotion • Legacy • Mortality • Bittersweet • Human Connection A final creative observation The most compelling idea in this poem is that love makes us willing to pay a price we would never agree to under ordinary circumstances. The ending then reveals that the price is not just time, money, sleep, or comfort—it is the knowledge that the people we love are not ours to keep forever. One small editorial note: your final sentence appears to stop at “the price the memory of someone who we loved dearly.” I interpreted the intended thought as the eventual price being the memory of someone we loved and lost. If that is your intention, consider giving the final line a clear, complete landing. It is the poem's emotional destination, and it deserves to be heard without ambiguity. Support the show

  2. Oct 7

    Peekaboo...Circles & Squares : {Poem}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. ORIGINAL POETRY - PEEKABOO...CIRCLES & SQUARES POEM / TRANSCRIPT “I don't want to live a life of highlights and moments the camera captured when we were at our best…”The poem begins by rejecting the idea of a curated life—a life defined only by the moments worthy of being photographed, remembered, posted, or celebrated. The speaker wants something more authentic: life itself, including imperfection, mistakes, uncertainty, humor, contradiction, and everything that exists between the highlights. The poem then moves into a direct philosophical argument: Perfection → destroys happiness → therefore, pursuing perfection can move us away from the very purpose we're seeking. From there, the piece becomes more confrontational: “why are still trying to fit into a model that was not created for you”The metaphor of the circle and square becomes the central image of the poem. The square doesn't need to become a circle. The individual doesn't need to become something else simply because society, another person, or an imagined standard says they should. And the poem ultimately resolves in its most compassionate idea: You don't need to become something different to be worthy. You are already lovely because you were created to be exactly who you are. CORE THEMESPrimary Themes AuthenticitySelf-acceptanceIndividualityImperfectionHappinessPurposePersonal freedomIdentitySelf-worthSpiritual affirmationSecondary Themes Social expectationsPerfectionismComparisonPersonal liberationBreaking conformityHuman individualityDivine creationLiving authenticallyVOICE IDENTITYPrimary Voice Warm, conversational, confident, candid, rebellious, reflective, humorous, authentic, grounded, passionate, encouraging, emotionally intelligent, relatable. This shouldn't sound like someone preaching at an audience. It should sound like someone talking directly to another human being. There's an important distinction. The speaker has conviction, but the conviction comes from experience and observation, not superiority. Vocal Character The Unfiltered Philosopher / Relatable Truth-Teller The voice feels like someone who has reached a point where they are no longer interested in performing perfection for other people. There's wisdom here, but it's delivered with personality. The profanity, “boo,” “peek a boo,” and “riddle me this” keep the piece from becoming overly serious or academic. That contrast is one of the poem's strengths. PERFORMANCE DIRECTIONOpening Intimate. Reflective. Conversational. The first section should feel almost like a personal confession. Don't rush: “I don't want to live a life of highlights…”Allow the listener to recognize themselves in the statement. “Perfection is the killer of happiness…” This is the first major thesis statement. Give it more weight. Not necessarily louder—more certain. “Why are you still trying…” Here, the energy shifts. Become more direct and challenging. This is where the speaker moves from reflection → confrontation. “Why are you still trying to be a circle when you are square, boo?” This is the personality moment. The delivery can have a slight smile or playful attitude. Don't overperform it. The humor works because the underlying truth remains serious. “Peek a boo…” This section should feel playful and clever. The contrast between the playful language and the philosophical point gives the poem character. Closing The final section should slow down. “you don't need to be anything but lovely…”This is the emotional landing point. The final thought about what God made you to be should feel sincere rather than theatrical. The poem ends not with rebellion, but with acceptance. EMOTIONAL ARC1. Dissatisfaction “I don't want to live a life of highlights…” ↓ 2. Rejection Perfection is rejected as an ideal. ↓ 3. Philosophical Challenge Why conform to something that wasn't designed for you? ↓ 4. Humor / Playfulness Circle vs. square. ↓ 5. Realization You don't need to become something else. ↓ 6. Spiritual Affirmation You are already lovely because you were created that way. Emotional trajectory: Reflective → Defiant → Playful → Empowering → Tender → Affirming POETIC STYLEConversational Poetry Spoken Word Free Verse Contemporary Poetry Philosophical Poetry Inspirational Poetry Personal Reflection Direct Address Literary Devices Extended metaphor: Circle vs. square. Contrast: Perfection vs. happiness. Rhetorical questioning: Used to challenge the listener. Direct address: Creates an intimate relationship with the audience. Humor: “Boo” and “peek a boo” provide levity. Repetition of conceptual opposites: Perfect / imperfect, circle / square, conformity / individuality. Spiritual resolution: The poem ultimately grounds individuality in divine creation. CASTING ANALYSISCasting Age Male 30–55 The piece benefits from a voice with enough maturity to make the philosophical observations feel lived-in rather than theoretical. Casting Identity African American Male The performance can authentically occupy the space of a contemporary African American male storyteller speaking candidly about identity, self-worth, individuality, and life experience. Vocal Archetype The Authentic Truth-Teller A man who has stopped trying to impress everybody and has learned to value authenticity over appearances. Personality Confident, candid, witty, self-aware, independent, compassionate, rebellious, encouraging, spiritually grounded. Performance Archetype Conversational Spoken-Word Storyteller The performance should feel like you're speaking to one person, even when you're speaking to an audience. MASTER KEYWORDSAuthentic, conversational, candid, unfiltered, relatable, confident, rebellious, reflective, philosophical, inspirational, motivational, empowering, encouraging, humorous, witty, playful, intimate, personal, genuine, grounded, emotionally intelligent, self-aware, passionate, expressive, direct, compelling, contemporary, spoken-word, storytelling, narrative, free verse, lyrical, metaphorical, thought-provoking, vulnerable, sincere, spiritual, affirming, liberating, unapologetic, individualistic, nonconformist, resilient, purposeful, warm, personable, natural, dynamic, engaging, provocative, honest, human, hopeful, accepting, self-affirming, faith-centered, transformative. CORE CASTING KEYWORDSAfrican American Male, 30–55, warm, conversational, authentic, relatable, confident, candid, witty, grounded, philosophical, reflective, rebellious, empowering, motivational, emotionally intelligent, spiritually grounded, contemporary storyteller, spoken-word poet, truth-teller, naturalistic, intimate, expressive, unapologetic, encouraging, personable. VO CASTING OPPORTUNITIESThis poem demonstrates several qualities that are valuable beyond poetry: Spoken-word performanceInspirational narrationPersonal storytellingLifestyle / wellnessMotivational contentPersonal-development programmingDocumentary narrationPodcast storytellingSocial-impact storytellingFaith-based storytellingBrand storytellingLong-form conversational narrationMost importantly, it demonstrates something a polished commercial cannot always show: Your ability to sound like a real person with something meaningful to say. That's arguably the strongest casting asset in this piece. MASTER CASTING SUMMARYCast an African American male, approximately 30–55, with a warm, grounded, conversational voice and an authentic, lived-in quality. He should possess the confidence of someone unafraid to challenge conventional thinking while maintaining enough humor, vulnerability, and humanity to keep the message inviting rather than preachy. The performance should feel spontaneous, intimate, intelligent, and emotionally honest—moving naturally from reflective observation to playful confrontation and ultimately landing in warmth, self-acceptance, and spiritual affirmation. MASTER POETRY TAG Authentic • Conversational • Unfiltered • Philosophical • Rebellious • Witty • Reflective • Empowering • Spiritually Grounded • Spoken-Word Storytelling • Self-Acceptance • Individuality • Purpose • Freedom • Emotional Truth Support the show

  3. Oct 5

    Corporate Demo Reel- Mature, Deliberate, Dependable, Deep, Masculine, Experienced

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. I am voice over artist whose deep rich male voice that is unmistakable. I can bring a cinematic quality to whatever the project maybe (commercials, audiobooks, anime, film , TV etc).  P.S. If you are looking for a professional writer I can assist with that as well (poetry, short stories, fantasy, voice over demo reels or samples) looking forward to working with you all.  Jason's Unmistakable Voices Support the show

    Corporate Demo Reel- Mature, Deliberate, Dependable, Deep, Masculine, Experienced

  4. Sep 7

    Docuseries Memories - Casual, Intelligent, Reassuring, Whimsical, Calm

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. # SCIENCE — HUMAN BEHAVIOR ## 1. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION **Brand / Client:** Science / Psychology Docuseries   **Industry:** Science / Psychology / Human Behavior   **Project Type:** Documentary / Docuseries Narration   **Spot Type:** Science Documentary / Psychology / Human Behavior Exploration   **Campaign Concept:** Exploring how emotion influences the way the human brain forms and retains memories.   **Target Audience:** General adult audience, science enthusiasts, psychology viewers, documentary audiences, lifelong learners   **Approximate Runtime:** 25–30 seconds   --- # 2. TRANSCRIPT **[CURIOUS]** “Why do we remember some moments for decades… while forgetting what happened yesterday? The answer may have less to do with memory itself— and more to do with emotion. Because when something matters to us, the brain doesn't simply record the moment. It changes the way we remember it.” # 4. VOICE IDENTITY ### Primary Qualities Intelligent, curious, approachable, articulate, conversational, credible, warm, engaging, thoughtful, grounded. ### Performance Qualities Natural, fluid, measured, controlled, expressive, precise, conversational, deliberate, nuanced, storytelling-driven. ### Emotional Qualities Curious, intrigued, reflective, fascinated, thoughtful, contemplative, inviting, quietly excited. ### Energy **Moderate, controlled and intellectually engaged.** The voice should make the audience feel that there is something interesting just around the corner. # 6. VOICE / DELIVERY KEYWORDS ### Main Keywords Intelligent, curious, conversational, approachable, articulate, credible, thoughtful, engaging, warm, natural, grounded, reflective, insightful, knowledgeable, clear, measured, sophisticated, genuine, inquisitive, compelling, calm, expressive, educational, storytelling. ### Priority Keywords **Intelligent, Curious, Conversational, Approachable, Articulate, Thoughtful, Engaging, Credible, Reflective, Insightful, Natural, Grounded** ### Secondary Keywords Knowledgeable, clear, measured, sophisticated, genuine, inquisitive, compelling, calm, expressive, educational, storytelling, nuanced, observant. --- # 7. SPOT / USE-CASE KEYWORDS Science documentary, psychology documentary, human behavior documentary, docuseries narration, science narration, psychology narration, documentary voiceover, human behavior, behavioral science, neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology education, science education, educational documentary, documentary storytelling, scientific storytelling, human mind, memory, emotion, brain science, cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, educational narration, streaming documentary, television documentary, documentary series, science television, nonfiction narration. --- # 9. ROLE / CHARACTER ### Primary Role **Curious Science Narrator** ### Secondary Roles - Psychology narrator - Documentary host - Science communicator - Behavioral science guide - Research storyteller - Educational narrator - Neuroscience narrator - Human behavior commentator - Investigative science narrator - Thoughtful documentary host ### Character Archetype **The Curious Expert** ### Perceived Age **40–47** ### Character Energy Intelligent, observant, curious, composed and approachable. ### Character Motivation He wants the audience to understand not only **what happens in the human brain**, but why it matters to everyday human experience. --- # 10. VOICE DEMOGRAPHICS **Gender:** Male   **Casting Age:** 35–50   **Perceived Age:** 40–47   **Voice Type:** Intelligent, mature, approachable American male   **Masculinity:** Grounded, confident, thoughtful   **Audience Appeal:** Broad adult documentary and educational audience   **Geographic Appeal:** Broad American   ### Demographic Keywords African American Male, American Male, Adult Male, Mature Male, Professional Male, Documentary Voice, Science Narrator, Psychology Narrator, Educational Voice, Documentary Host, Science Communicator, Thoughtful Male Voice, Intelligent Male Voice, Storytelling Voice. --- # 11. LANGUAGE & ACCENT **Primary Language:** English   **Accent:** General American   **Delivery:** Naturalistic documentary narration   **Accent Keywords:** General American, Contemporary American, Natural American, Documentary American The intelligence should come through **clarity, thought and vocal confidence**, not through an exaggerated academic accent. --- # 12. BRAND / CATEGORY KEYWORDS ### Category Science / Psychology / Human Behavior ### Category Identity Intelligent, evidence-oriented, investigative, educational, accessible, thought-provoking and human-centered. ### Core Values Discovery, curiosity, understanding, evidence, observation, education and exploration. ### Campaign Language Remember, moments, decades, yesterday, memory, emotion, brain, record, matters, remember. ### Core Concept **Emotion influences how the human brain encodes and remembers meaningful experiences.** --- # 13. CREATIVE STYLE ### Primary Creative Style **Intelligent Science Documentary Storytelling** ### Secondary Styles - Psychology Documentary - Human Behavior Documentary - Scientific Storytelling - Educational Documentary - Cognitive Science - Neuroscience Storytelling - Human-Centered Science - Investigative Documentary - Thought-Provoking Narration - Premium Docuseries ### Copy Feel **Accessible intelligence.** The audience should feel smarter because they listened—not because the narrator sounded intellectual. --- # 14. LISTENER RELATIONSHIP ### Speaker → Listener Science guide → curious viewer ### Relationship Trusted expert speaking directly to an intelligent but non-specialist audience. ### Emotional Effect Curiosity → recognition → fascination → understanding. ### Trust Position **Very High** ### Intimacy **Moderate-high** The narrator is knowledgeable without creating distance. --- # 15. BRAND PERSONALITY MATCH | Quality | Match | |---|---| | Authenticity | Very High | | Relatability | Very High | | Trust | Very High | | Authority | Very High | | Warmth | High | | Energy | Moderate | | Charisma | High | | Emotional Connection | High | ### Why the Voice Fits This is an excellent intersection between your **medical/scientific authority** and your **storytelling/narrative qualities**. The science needs credibility, but the subject is inherently human. A voice that is too clinical loses the emotional connection; a voice that is too dramatic loses scientific credibility. Your strongest lane here is: **Intelligent authority + human curiosity.** --- # 16. SEARCH / CASTING KEYWORDS ### Master Keyword String **African American Male, Intelligent, Curious, Conversational, Approachable, Articulate, Thoughtful, Credible, Engaging, Reflective, Insightful, Natural, Grounded, Science Narrator, Psychology, Human Behavior, Documentary, General American** ### Priority Casting Terms **Intelligent | Curious | Conversational | Approachable | Articulate | Thoughtful | Credible | Reflective | Insightful | Science Narrator** ### Keyword Strategy Lead with **intelligent + curious + conversational**. This separates the casting from a traditional medical or academic narration profile. The most important distinction is: **Science expert who sounds human — not professor who sounds academic.** --- # 17. AUDITION POSITIONING ### Best Casting Lane **Intelligent, Conversational Science Documentary Narrator** ### Secondary Casting Lanes - Psychology Documentary - Human Behavior - Behavioral Science - Neuroscience - Cognitive Science - Science Docuseries - Educational Documentary - Documentary Host - Scientific Storytelling - Medical Documentary - Psychology Education - Streaming Documentary - Premium Nonfiction - Human-Centered Science ### Strongest Selling Point **The ability to make sophisticated information feel accessible, human and genuinely interesting.** ### What Makes This Read Competitive The script begins with a question everyone can relate to. That gives you a powerful performance opportunity: **Personal experience → scientific question → emotional explanation → insight.** You're not narrating information. You're guiding the audience toward an answer. ### Ideal Client Science networks, documentary producers, streaming platforms, educational organizations, museums, universities, healthcare companies and nonfiction production companies. ### Ideal Brand A science or educational brand that wants **credible expertise without sacrificing warmth and accessibility.** --- # 20. MASTER VO TAG **Science | Psychology | Human Behavior | Docuseries | African Americ Support the show

  5. Sep 1

    Windows : {Poem}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. Hey y’all, I love writing poetry, I imagine you do to if you are here. So, if you like this poem give it a share. And check me out on audible and YouTube.  Love you guys, - Jason's Unmistakable Voices Support the show

  6. Aug 25

    No Baby That’s Not Food: J.K.Moore Original {Short Story}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. Hey y’all, This is a story I made up on the fly. It is very raw but it keeps with the theme that we have going on. If you like it and like this let me know with your downloads. Love y'all. Hope y’all enjoy this Jason Kakpo-Moore original. Support the show

  7. Aug 13

    Ugly Fish : {Children's Story}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. Hey y’all, This is something new I’m calling it Epic Readings of Children Stories. You will hear the full story in the end.  Love y’all, - Jason & The Family  Support the show

  8. Aug 5

    Where’s The Green Sheep : {Children's Story}

    Send us a text about this episode and tell us what you got from it. Hey y’all, This is something new I’m calling it Epic Readings of Children Stories. You will hear the full story in the end.  Love y’all, - Jason & The Family  Support the show

See All (177)

About

I love writing poetry and short stories and the best way to enjoy this podcast is by closing your eyes ("when it is safe") for the fullest listening experience. 

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Kakpo-Moore
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Telling Better Stories
  • Show Website
    Telling Better Stories