The conference is designed for storytellers and for professionals who use storytelling in their vocation or avocation—teachers, ministers, counselors, librarians, business leaders, and community educators. Our three-track system (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) allows participants to select the sessions that best support their goals: whether developing core skills, enhancing classroom or workplace engagement, or refining advanced performance techniques.
Beginner
Track
Session One
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Finding Your Story Spark
Presenter: Hank Roubicek
Learn how to find story ideas using simple retrieval systems that help teachers, ministers, counselors, and performers uncover meaningful narratives. Explore how to shape raw material into stories that resonate with listeners.
Learning Objectives
- Identify a reliable retrieval system for generating story ideas
- Shape raw material into compelling story structure
- Craft themes that connect with specific audiences
- Discover sequencing strategies that support memorization and flow
Session Two
1:45 – 2:45 PM
Basic Story Structure
Presenter: Tony Hardman
Learn the essential six-point story arc that helps new storytellers, teachers, and leaders build structured, memorable stories.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the six-point story formula
- Apply structure to personal and cultural stories
- Identify weak points in story structure
- Create a structured outline for a new story
Session Three
3:15 – 4:15 PM
Science: Tell It Like a Story
Presenter: Fran Stallings
Stories provide an appealing way to slip ideas in under the radar of people who fear or distrust sicence – as was well as a time-tested way to teach. See how to tuck science bits into familiar, tellable tales. Then we’ll practice using the story elements that work in time-tested folk tales to craft science information into “fact-tales” that can make complicated ideas easy to remember, and help listeners see meaning in masses of facts, while sharing your love of nature.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify scientific concepts and “science bits” that can be seamlessly integrated into familiar folk tales.
- Apply traditional story structures and folk tale elements to transform complex data into engaging “fact-tales”.
- Untilize narrative techniques to simplify complicated ideas and masses of facts for listeners who may fear or distrust science.
- Develop storytelling strategies that communicate scientific meaning while fostering a deeper respect and love for the natural world.
Intermediate
Track
Session One
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Collaborative Storytelling
Presenters: Stephen Schwartz & Viveca Deans
Explore story components—conflict, tone, character—and learn how collaboration strengthens engagement, whether in classrooms, counseling settings, worship spaces, or group storytelling sessions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify essential story components
- Incorporate conflict, theme, and character growth
- Analyze and evaluate story elements
- Apply collaborative storytelling strategies to teaching or group dynamics
Session Two
1:45 – 2:45 PM
Biblical Storytelling
Presenter: Kathy Culmer
Move beyond reading Scripture to telling it with depth, embodiment, and relevance. Learn how to bring biblical figures to life and adapt stories for audiences of all ages.
Learning Objectives:
- Memorize and internalize biblical stories
- Differentiate voices and characters through performance tools
- Adapt theological stories for different age groups
- Transition from story into spiritual dialogue
Session Three
3:15 – 4:15 PM
Healing Stories as Tools for Processing Trauma, Pain, and Grief
Presenter: Warren Holleman
Stories have the power to heal our hurts, recharge our batteries, and restore our souls.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify various types of healing stories
- Discuss ways that stories can heal both tellers and listeners.
- Recognize good ways and “not-so-good” ways to tell stories about trauma, hurt, and grief.
- Develop skills for transforming painful, personal experiences into robust stories that are appropriate for the public.
Advanced
Track
Session One
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Brain Candy! Games for Storytelling
Presenter: Vivian Rutherford
A fast-paced workshop using storytelling games to strengthen creativity, communication, and expression. Ideal for performers, educators, youth leaders, and anyone who wants to unlock imaginative play.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore games that build creativity and collaboration
- Strengthen oral and non-verbal communication
- Apply playful techniques to educational and performance settings
- Cultivate confidence and freedom through experimentation
Session Two
1:45 – 2:45 PM
Bilingual Storytelling: The Bridge of Two Tongues
Presenter: Barbara Bridgewater
Learn how to strategically integrate two languages (e.g., English and Spanish) not just as content, but as a dynamic element of rhythm, character voice, and emotional impact. We will cover techniques for maintaining momentum, ensuring clarity for monolingual listeners, and using linguistic code-switching to enhance drama and authenticity.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze the narrative and emotional impact of code-switching when performing bilingual stories.
- Design a bilingual performance structure that maintains clarity and engagement for an audience with varied language proficiencies.
- Practice vocal techniques that effectively differentiate languages, characters, and cultural tones within a single story.
- Develop criteria for selecting which story components (dialogue, description, internal monologue) are best delivered in which language to maximize impact.
Session Three
3:15 – 4:15 PM
Storyteller Studio
Presenter: Bernadette Nason
A live coaching studio for those ready to refine stories at a professional level. Note that because of the time limits, only 5-7 tellers will be able to receive this professional level coaching. Others are welcome to observe. Sign up early and indicate when register that you would be interested in this special coaching.
Learning Objectives:
- Present a story draft for critique
- Receive feedback
- Respond to coaching using real-time adjustments
- Strengthen performance through professional feedback
- Create a revision plan for continued development