Storytelling School Kymberlee Weil

As a kid growing up, I get to spend time with two families. On one side is my mom and stepdad, and on the other is my dad and stepmom. Being the only child in both families, I spend holidays at one house and then the other. Trick or treating on Halloween with one family earlier in the evening and the other later in the evening. I even have two different celebrations on my birthday.
Everything is separate...until 2010 when I decide to run a TEDx event for the first time and realize quickly that I need help. So Mom, an English major, offers to help with speakers. My stepmom helps with overseeing and running registration and volunteers. My stepdad has experience with stage managing and works with me behind the stage with the tech team and speakers. And Dad helps with all onsite needs including fine-tuning the sets and becomes our X-factor.
While my two families have very different values, beliefs, and even rules, they do have one thing in common: they have tremendous love to give and they come together civilly for a collective cause that is bigger than any one of us individually. They volunteer at our TEDx event to help change the world through spreading ideas.
Now my special guest today, Joe Weston, teaches people how to not only be civil to each other but fiercely so in order to influence what happens next in their stories.
In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about why we get caught in a repetitive story of arguing and fighting with others. You’ll also discover keys to creating stories of mutual empowerment between people and get answers to questions like:
How are power dynamics at the core of stories that fuel fights? What has helped create a universal mindset that helps facilitate arguments? What’s an example of how a challenging life story can positively impact others? And how can the process of working on your first TEDx Talk change the story you tell yourself about public speaking?
What you will learn in this episode:
What influences the argumentative stories we tell ourselves and each other What kind of exercise can help you transition from story to training in your Talk or presentation Why simply writing the ideal Talk isn’t enough for a good presentation Who is Joe?
Joe Weston is an international thought leader, lecturer, author, consultant, coach, trainer, and advocate for lasting peace. Born in Queens, NY and raised in a volatile, argumentative environment, he was determined to understand the roots of conflict and find another way to safely address problems. So he went on a worldwide quest and studied diverse traditions such as various martial art forms, meditation, contemplative practices, neuroscience, communication models, and more.
Eventually, Joe ended up living in the Netherlands for 18 years where he expanded his vision of human solidarity that transcended nationality, race, religion, political ideology, and economic status and led to creating programs in the U.S., Europe, and some of the most conflict-ridden regions in the world. His career as a conflict prevention specialist spans over 30 years, and he’s a highly sought-after facilitator for individuals, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits worldwide.
Links and Resources
Joe Weston Joe’s TEDx Talk: “Say Goodbye to Chronic Niceness” Fierce Civility and Mastering Respectful Confrontation books by Joe Weston @joewestonauthor on Facebook @fiercecivility on Instagram Joe Weston on LinkedIn Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m ready to dazzle! I have on my heels, my dress, and my glitter as I enter the doors of Blaisdell Arena and make my way to my seat near the front row. I can feel my heart racing with anticipation. 
Then, the lights go out. The fog on stage gets thicker. The familiar beat begins, and it’s as if my heart starts to beat with it in unison.
Suddenly, the backup singers take their places on the stage. And through the haze, I finally see him. As he comes into focus, there’s cheering, and screaming, and some nearby me are even crying. We’re all so excited to see what we’ve been looking forward to for months: Prince performing live on stage, in person, in living color!
At that moment, we’re all in the middle of this story happening around us. Years later, I can recall where I sat, what I thought, and who I was with that evening. That’s what a powerful experience that earns a permanent place in the memory can do. 
Starting from his days as a civil engineering student, my special guest Adam Metwally is all about creating experiences for others using a combination of his various interests, knowledge, and experience. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear how he emphasizes the power of creating memorable experiences, his tips on building genuine confidence and its role in storytelling, and so much more! You’ll also get answers to questions like:
How do you build trust and connection as an interviewer of those who want to share stories? How can better understanding your influence affect the story of others and, in turn, impact your own? And why is genuine authenticity essential for effective storytelling? 
What you will learn in this episode:
How to bring out and develop the story within an event What the keys are to getting good stories out of other people How to build genuine confidence and why it is key to authenticity Who is Adam?
Adam Metwally loves to connect and riff with intelligent and interesting people to expand his insight, perspective, and knowledge. He reads voraciously and has an unending curiosity about the world around him. Politely persistent but extremely extroverted, his interests include business psychology, mindset, finance, music, spirituality, and sports like yoga, snowboarding, running, and basketball.
With deep curiosity and an environment that fosters growth through impactful projects, Adam aims to take the wide variety of intersecting and specific knowledge he’s developed over the last decade to learn quickly and contribute world-class ideas to organizations. He then uses his organizational skills, persistence, and focus to push those ideas into outcomes.
Links and Resources
Adam Metwally The One Time Podcast: Apple | Spotify @meetwally on Instagram @adammetwally on LinkedIn @adam.metwally on Facebook @metwally on TikTok @ManTalks on Instagram Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

I’m on a Zoom call rehearsing with a group of speakers who are getting ready for an upcoming TEDx event. Yet something’s off.
After finishing her run, one speaker admits, “I don’t really feel like I’m connected.” 
And that’s when I realize something. She’s scanning the room and not really seeing anyone. It’s like she’s talking into the void.
So I say, “Try focusing on one person at a time, like you’re talking directly to that particular person. Then focus on the next person, and then the next.”
I have everybody take a turn at this. They’re hesitant at first. Yet over the next few weeks, they start making genuine connections with their audience even though it’s through the screen.
It’s incredible to see and just another powerful reminder of the magic of eye contact. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we continue our Storytelling Seven series where you’ll learn why mastering eye contact is such a crucial element in storytelling and public speaking. In the process, you’ll also find out:
Why can eye contact make or break your presentation? What specific considerations should you keep in mind for eye contact in virtual presentations? And how can you practice making eye contact in your speech or story?
What you will learn in this episode:
How eye contact helps you as the speaker or storyteller How eye contact serves as a bridge between you and your audience How to overcome the challenges of mastering eye contact 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

I’m standing backstage with my dad in a room full of speakers who are getting ready to make their TEDx debuts. We’ve been working for over eight months for this moment, yet the nervous energy in the room is palpable. 
So Greg, the event organizer, takes the microphone and gives a short, inspirational talk. Then he stops, walks over to my dad and hands him the microphone.
Dad clears his throat and says, “What did the fish say when it ran into the wall?” And that joke breaks open a dam of levity that helps take the energy from trepidation to confidence and readiness for the stage.
Humor can be a game-changer. And in this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about how humor affects stories, the different types of humor you can deploy, how you can play with humor to find what works for you and your audience, and the pitfalls you need to avoid when using it as a device. In the process, you’ll get answers to questions such as:
Why is humor so effective in storytelling and speaking? How do you choose a style of humor and start experimenting with it? And what can go wrong when using humor in your stories and speeches? 
What you will learn in this episode:
What types of humor you can deploy in speaking and storytelling How to integrate and experiment with humor to find what fits best What not to do with humor in your speeches and stories 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

I’m at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago taking a week-long intensive Improv class. In the middle of a scene with my scene partner, I have this brilliant idea. So I start forcing the scene in the direction I have in mind.
My partner follows along…and the whole scene ends up being pretty flat and predictable. After we’re done, the instructor says, “Kymberlee, I have a note for you. Allow yourself to be surprised on stage rather than in control.”
What if we apply the same principle to our presentations? How would that change us and the audience? In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn why it’s important to allow yourself to be surprised on stage as a speaker or storyteller and how that leads to more dynamic, memorable presentations, Talks, and stories.. I’ll share examples of embracing unexpected moments and answers questions like:
Why are spontaneity and authenticity crucial for effective speaking and storytelling? What impact can unexpected moments have on the audience? And what techniques can you use to create an authentic connection with your audience?
What you will learn in this episode:
How the element of surprise affects your audience psychologically How you can embrace the unexpected as a speaker or storyteller on stage How an open, flexible approach can transform your audience’s experience 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

I’m in the final planning stages for Story to Standing Ovation, our annual live event, when my dad randomly stops by to drop something off. He comes toward my office, stops in the doorway, and says, “What the heck is that?”
As he points at my sliding glass doors, I tell him, “This is my brain on sticky notes.” What he’s looking at is three days of our event broken down, sticky style. 
These aren’t just randomly placed sticky notes, either. I have these organized in full outline form and broken down into topics and categories. Some of the sticky notes are in bold, others are in different colors, and still others are highlighted.
Whenever I plan an event, a Talk, or even a story, I need to visually see the pieces. And even though I’ve tried other ways, this adhesive square playground is the planning method that works best for me.
In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn how a simple tool like sticky notes can revolutionize the way you plan your stories, speeches, workshops, and other events and get answers to questions like:
What are the advantages of using sticky notes for story and other event planning? What do you need to consider when choosing your workspace for sticky notes? And what two things must you do to eliminate the confusion of working with your sticky note outline later on?
What you will learn in this episode:
How to brainstorm and categorize ideas on sticky notes How to structure your sticky notes in the outlining process How to use sticky notes to help you transition between sections 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