100 episodes
Speak Up Storytelling Matthew and Elysha Dicks
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- Arts
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4.9 • 247 Ratings
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Learn to tell better stories from the producers of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization. Bestselling author, 53-time Moth StorySLAM champion, and 7-time GrandSLAM champion Matthew Dicks partners with his wife, Elysha Dicks, to share stories recorded from years of Speak Up shows. More importantly, they offer tips, feedback, strategies, and advice on these stories, all in an effort to help you tell your best stories.
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James Bengiovanni: “Game Show Host”
On episode #116 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling!
In our follow up segment, we discuss our return to posting new episodes and our upcoming shows and workshops.
August 18: Speak Up at Hill-Stead Museum (6:00 PM EST) August 20-21: Storytelling Workshop (Phoenicia Playhouse, Woodstock, NY) August 21: Speak Up at the Phoenicia Playhouse, Woodstock, NY (7:00 PM EST) October 23: Speak Up at The Wadsworth Atheneum (7:00 PM EST) Tickets available soon! December 4: Speak Up at The Connecticut Historical Society (7:00 PM EST) In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about finding stories through contrast.
Next we listen to a story by James Bengiovanni.
Amongst the many things we discuss include:
Authenticity of voice Capturing secondary characters in meaningful ways Raising the stakes The art of “the pause” Powers of location Alternatives to the impulse to play jokes loudly The importance of ending in the heart of the storyteller Next we answer questions about using stories in cover letters and job interviews.
Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.
RECOMMEDATIONS
Elysha:
Crip Camp Documentary (Netflix) Matt:
How Walking Can Build Up the Brain by. Gretchen Reynolds (NYTimes) _________________________________________________________
Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling
Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35
Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:
https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Matthew Dicks's blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/blog -
"Remembering Your Story" with special guest Thomas Krafft
On episode #115 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and special guest Thomas Krafft talk storytelling!
In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.
April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST) In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about the way that a simple statement, when given enough thought and consideration, can produce a story.
Next Matt and Thomas discuss strategies for remembering content for the stage, incluidng:
Memorizing versus remembering Strategies for practicing aloud Strategies for recording Active listening The reverse memory palace Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.
RECOMMEDATIONS
Thomas:
Geocaching Matt:
Photo rotation
_______________________________________________ Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling
Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35
Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:
https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Matthew Dicks's blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/blog -
Questions Answered!
On episode #114 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling! And answering your questions!
In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.
April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST) In our Homework for Life segment, Elysha explains to Matt how one of his Homework for Life entries can make a great story.
Next we answer lots of listener questions!
Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.
RECOMMEDATIONS
Elysha:
Wandavision on Netflix Moby Dicks in Pictures by Matt Kish
_______________________________________________ Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling
Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35
Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:
https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Matthew Dicks's blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/blog
Two Little Jewish Dicks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIrItw1hsSI
Shoe Thief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl_gQhsPqXA -
Donna Shubrooks: "Driveway Interview"
On episode #113 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling!
In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.
March 20: "Weddings Behind the Scenes" (7:00 PM EST) April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST) In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about the way that Homework for Life can help illuminate a story that took years to complete.
Next we listen to a story by Donna Shubrooks.
Amongst the many things we discuss include:
Humor strategies in storytelling
Dispensing information without leaving the confines of the story
Spooling
Openings
Avoiding describing scenes after the fact
Next we answer questions about subtle stories and storytelling introductions.
Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.
RECOMMEDATIONS
Elysha:
https://www.cookingwithshereen.com Matt:
Speck of Dust by Sarah Silverman (Netflix)
_______________________________________________ Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling
Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35
Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:
https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Matthew Dicks's blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/blog -
SPECIAL EPISODE #5: Real Life People in a Book - "Twenty-one Truths About Love"
In this special episode of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew Shepard and Steve Brouse talk about what it's like to become characters in a book of fiction and other oddities in the creation of Matt's novel, "Twenty-one Truths About Love," a book written entirely in list form.
In this series of 5 episodes, Matt, along with Elysha, several friends, his editor, and the illustrator of the cover, will pull back the curtains on publishing. They'll talk about the writing process, creativity, collaboration, stumbling blocks, and more.
"Twenty-one Truths About Love" is now available in paperback and can be purchased wherever you get books. -
SPECIAL EPISODE #4: Stumbling Blocks - "Twenty-one Truths About Love"
In this special episode of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matt and storyteller Jeni Bonaldo talk about the stumbling blocks that occurred in the writing of Matt's novel, "Twenty-one Truths About Love," a book written entirely in list form.
In this series of 5 episodes, Matt, along with Elysha, several friends, his editor, and the illustrator of the cover, will pull back the curtains on publishing. They'll talk about the writing process, creativity, collaboration, stumbling blocks, and more.
"Twenty-one Truths About Love" is now available in paperback and can be purchased wherever you get books.
Customer Reviews
Such a pleasure to listen to!
I really enjoyed the “Remember Your Story” episode with Thomas Krafft - such a lovely conversation to help us all remember to telling our life stories and how to remember the content when you’re on stage. Is it better to memorize it word for word or something else? Great tips!!
The once great storytelling podcast
I really enjoyed this podcast for a long time. Matthew has a systems approach to storytelling, and he is a great communicator. The structure of the podcast was consistent and I learned a lot from his examples and analysis. And then something happened. He became political. Something began to bleed from his personal life into the podcast, and whether he realized it or not, began to make subversive political statements and occasionally was insulting to people who didn’t think quite like him. That’s when he lost me.
Great stories!
I never knew storytelling was even a thing people did and worked on. I happened upon Matt who was a guest on another podcast I listen to and was so interested in his story and info so I started listening. So many great stories and I love hearing both his and his wife’s thoughts about the craft of storytelling. I absolutely loved the Storytelling Workshop Sneak Peek episode! It was soooo interesting to hear stories from beginners who are working on them. I hope they do another one like that. It also made me think I might enjoy participating in one of his workshops.