okay I’m going to start off with the confession you guys aren’t quite getting
confession you guys aren’t quite getting
confession you guys aren’t quite getting the TED talk that I originally wrote I
the TED talk that I originally wrote I
the TED talk that I originally wrote I had if I do say so myself written
had if I do say so myself written
had if I do say so myself written something that was funny cute clever you
something that was funny cute clever you
something that was funny cute clever you know writers always think that their
know writers always think that their
know writers always think that their work is funny cute and clever when they
work is funny cute and clever when they
work is funny cute and clever when they need it to be I was going to tell you
need it to be I was going to tell you
need it to be I was going to tell you about how the start of my talk would be
about how the start of my talk would be
about how the start of my talk would be about my personal life story then I was
about my personal life story then I was
about my personal life story then I was going to tell you about how I was raised
going to tell you about how I was raised
going to tell you about how I was raised to poor black man singing and dancing in
to poor black man singing and dancing in
to poor black man singing and dancing in Mississippi and if you are familiar with
Mississippi and if you are familiar with
Mississippi and if you are familiar with the movie the jerk you would know that
the movie the jerk you would know that
the movie the jerk you would know that in fact that was not my life story and
in fact that was not my life story and
in fact that was not my life story and you ever have never seen the movie the
you ever have never seen the movie the
you ever have never seen the movie the jerk you should definitely see it
jerk you should definitely see it
jerk you should definitely see it because there’s nothing like seeing
because there’s nothing like seeing
because there’s nothing like seeing steve martin who is the color of
steve martin who is the color of
steve martin who is the color of uncooked pastry shell sitting there with
uncooked pastry shell sitting there with
uncooked pastry shell sitting there with his family his black family that he
his family his black family that he
his family his black family that he doesn’t realize was in his birth family
doesn’t realize was in his birth family
doesn’t realize was in his birth family and then i was going to say oh just
and then i was going to say oh just
and then i was going to say oh just funning now let me tell you my real life
funning now let me tell you my real life
funning now let me tell you my real life story then I was going to move into the
story then I was going to move into the
story then I was going to move into the lyrics from The Fresh Prince of bel-air
lyrics from The Fresh Prince of bel-air
lyrics from The Fresh Prince of bel-air TV show you know TV will smith before he
TV show you know TV will smith before he
TV show you know TV will smith before he was movie star Will Smith but a little
was movie star Will Smith but a little
was movie star Will Smith but a little thing called the election happened and I
thing called the election happened and I
thing called the election happened and I decided maybe I don’t really want to
decided maybe I don’t really want to
decided maybe I don’t really want to start off that light but then I thought
start off that light but then I thought
start off that light but then I thought you know the election really is
you know the election really is
you know the election really is underscoring with the twist everything I
underscoring with the twist everything I
underscoring with the twist everything I was going to say anyway so if you think
was going to say anyway so if you think
was going to say anyway so if you think that this is the part where I go into
that this is the part where I go into
that this is the part where I go into this big rant about the election no I’m
this big rant about the election no I’m
this big rant about the election no I’m not not that I was happy with the
not not that I was happy with the
not not that I was happy with the results but as the earlier video said
results but as the earlier video said
results but as the earlier video said that is my views not leave you
that is my views not leave you
that is my views not leave you tedx but my topic is storytelling his
tedx but my topic is storytelling his
tedx but my topic is storytelling his advocacy and one of the things that’s
advocacy and one of the things that’s
advocacy and one of the things that’s really important in thinking about story
really important in thinking about story
really important in thinking about story is what is story really story is
is what is story really story is
is what is story really story is somebody who’s a storyteller placing
somebody who’s a storyteller placing
somebody who’s a storyteller placing something in front of you that hopefully
something in front of you that hopefully
something in front of you that hopefully connects with something that’s inside of
connects with something that’s inside of
connects with something that’s inside of you they lay some emotional trapped
you they lay some emotional trapped
you they lay some emotional trapped between you and the story and hopefully
between you and the story and hopefully
between you and the story and hopefully something connects you know to me that’s
something connects you know to me that’s
something connects you know to me that’s the power and that’s the magic of
the power and that’s the magic of
the power and that’s the magic of storytelling now pretty much every
storytelling now pretty much every
storytelling now pretty much every career I’ve done and I’ve had a few in
career I’ve done and I’ve had a few in
career I’ve done and I’ve had a few in my life has been storytelling of some
my life has been storytelling of some
my life has been storytelling of some kind my very first career was I was a
kind my very first career was I was a
kind my very first career was I was a newspaper reporter and one of the things
newspaper reporter and one of the things
newspaper reporter and one of the things about being a newspaper reporter is that
about being a newspaper reporter is that
about being a newspaper reporter is that is sheer storytelling that’s deciding
is sheer storytelling that’s deciding
is sheer storytelling that’s deciding what facts you’re going to use that’s
what facts you’re going to use that’s
what facts you’re going to use that’s deciding what facts you’re not going to
deciding what facts you’re not going to
deciding what facts you’re not going to use it’s basically telling a using a
use it’s basically telling a using a
use it’s basically telling a using a camera angle of an event with words now
camera angle of an event with words now
camera angle of an event with words now most of the years that I was a newspaper
most of the years that I was a newspaper
most of the years that I was a newspaper reporter my significant other was a
reporter my significant other was a
reporter my significant other was a still is actually a photojournalist and
still is actually a photojournalist and
still is actually a photojournalist and I noticed and saw many times over the
I noticed and saw many times over the
I noticed and saw many times over the years that no matter how simple are
years that no matter how simple are
years that no matter how simple are completely mind-numbingly dull the story
completely mind-numbingly dull the story
completely mind-numbingly dull the story he had to take several dozen if not
he had to take several dozen if not
he had to take several dozen if not hundreds of photos so that back at the
hundreds of photos so that back at the
hundreds of photos so that back at the newsroom an editor could select which of
newsroom an editor could select which of
newsroom an editor could select which of those photos would tell the proverbial
those photos would tell the proverbial
those photos would tell the proverbial thousand words but a lot of writing a
thousand words but a lot of writing a
thousand words but a lot of writing a new story is a hundred words also
new story is a hundred words also
new story is a hundred words also telling a thousand words so I got to
telling a thousand words so I got to
telling a thousand words so I got to share with you guys my favorite
share with you guys my favorite
share with you guys my favorite newspaper correction of all time for
newspaper correction of all time for
newspaper correction of all time for those of you who are young and haven’t
those of you who are young and haven’t
those of you who are young and haven’t maybe actually looked a physical
maybe actually looked a physical
maybe actually looked a physical newspaper you know you know back in the
newspaper you know you know back in the
newspaper you know you know back in the day of actually buying newspaper do you
day of actually buying newspaper do you
day of actually buying newspaper do you open up the pay the firts front page
open up the pay the firts front page
open up the pay the firts front page there’d be a little column where they
there’d be a little column where they
there’d be a little column where they ran Corrections for
ran Corrections for
ran Corrections for all the mistakes that were in the paper
all the mistakes that were in the paper
all the mistakes that were in the paper the day before remember those those
the day before remember those those
the day before remember those those listings and so my favorite correction
listings and so my favorite correction
listings and so my favorite correction is we apologize for the fact that we
is we apologize for the fact that we
is we apologize for the fact that we said that such-and-such church festival
said that such-and-such church festival
said that such-and-such church festival sold chicken sandwiches at their event
sold chicken sandwiches at their event
sold chicken sandwiches at their event they sold chicken dinners and one of the
they sold chicken dinners and one of the
they sold chicken dinners and one of the reasons why that was a really funny
reasons why that was a really funny
reasons why that was a really funny correction was sandwiches dinner but in
correction was sandwiches dinner but in
correction was sandwiches dinner but in retrospect it’s like the church was
retrospect it’s like the church was
retrospect it’s like the church was saying look we’re a good church we’re a
saying look we’re a good church we’re a
saying look we’re a good church we’re a big church we don’t just nourish the
big church we don’t just nourish the
big church we don’t just nourish the soul we nourish the body too we don’t
soul we nourish the body too we don’t
soul we nourish the body too we don’t sell half-assed chicken sandwiches at
sell half-assed chicken sandwiches at
sell half-assed chicken sandwiches at our events and so you know when you look
our events and so you know when you look
our events and so you know when you look at the election for example regardless
at the election for example regardless
at the election for example regardless of who you voted for it was people who
of who you voted for it was people who
of who you voted for it was people who were passing off chicken sandwiches as
were passing off chicken sandwiches as
were passing off chicken sandwiches as full course chicken meals and people who
full course chicken meals and people who
full course chicken meals and people who were thinking they were eating a meaty
were thinking they were eating a meaty
were thinking they were eating a meaty chicken meal with great sides and it was
chicken meal with great sides and it was
chicken meal with great sides and it was really a chicken biscuit but it was
really a chicken biscuit but it was
really a chicken biscuit but it was still people putting out there how they
still people putting out there how they
still people putting out there how they viewed the facts they wanted to present
viewed the facts they wanted to present
viewed the facts they wanted to present they were really so much storytelling as
they were really so much storytelling as
they were really so much storytelling as giving words to what they want you to
giving words to what they want you to
giving words to what they want you to think so my other career was law and I
think so my other career was law and I
think so my other career was law and I was an appointment attorney an
was an appointment attorney an
was an appointment attorney an appointment litigator for several years
appointment litigator for several years
appointment litigator for several years and the law is nothing more at least
and the law is nothing more at least
and the law is nothing more at least litigation than storytelling and I know
litigation than storytelling and I know
litigation than storytelling and I know what you’re thinking I mean storytelling
what you’re thinking I mean storytelling
what you’re thinking I mean storytelling and facts matter to the law and the law
and facts matter to the law and the law
and facts matter to the law and the law considers the facts but honestly the
considers the facts but honestly the
considers the facts but honestly the bottom line if you’re a litigator either
bottom line if you’re a litigator either
bottom line if you’re a litigator either by motion or in front of a judge or jury
by motion or in front of a judge or jury
by motion or in front of a judge or jury is who’s going to tell the best story
is who’s going to tell the best story
is who’s going to tell the best story who’s going to tell the story that
who’s going to tell the story that
who’s going to tell the story that someone’s going to believe and even if
someone’s going to believe and even if
someone’s going to believe and even if you’re just going to court to get out of
you’re just going to court to get out of
you’re just going to court to get out of a speeding ticket something I wouldn’t
a speeding ticket something I wouldn’t
a speeding ticket something I wouldn’t command you try to do unless you really
command you try to do unless you really
command you try to do unless you really work speeding and even then it’s still
work speeding and even then it’s still
work speeding and even then it’s still going to be a matter of does the judge
going to be a matter of does the judge
going to be a matter of does the judge believe your story so that’s why if you
believe your story so that’s why if you
believe your story so that’s why if you tell a truthful story to the judge for
tell a truthful story to the judge for
tell a truthful story to the judge for example you were speeding because you
example you were speeding because you
example you were speeding because you were rushing your parakeet to the vet
were rushing your parakeet to the vet
were rushing your parakeet to the vet you’re dying parakeet to the debt you’re
you’re dying parakeet to the debt you’re
you’re dying parakeet to the debt you’re taking a chance that the judge likes
taking a chance that the judge likes
taking a chance that the judge likes Birds and if they believe you then okay
Birds and if they believe you then okay
Birds and if they believe you then okay then you got out of a ticket now I’m
then you got out of a ticket now I’m
then you got out of a ticket now I’m sure some of you are probably thinking
sure some of you are probably thinking
sure some of you are probably thinking the law is only about the truth well no
the law is only about the truth well no
the law is only about the truth well no it tries to be just like with journalism
it tries to be just like with journalism
it tries to be just like with journalism journalists try to be objective lawyers
journalists try to be objective lawyers
journalists try to be objective lawyers for the most part try to tell the facts
for the most part try to tell the facts
for the most part try to tell the facts but at the end of the day it’s about
but at the end of the day it’s about
but at the end of the day it’s about whether somebody believes the narrative
whether somebody believes the narrative
whether somebody believes the narrative whether their story matches the
whether their story matches the
whether their story matches the narrative that you already believe so
narrative that you already believe so
narrative that you already believe so one of the things about storytelling is
one of the things about storytelling is
one of the things about storytelling is that you’re always fighting with the
that you’re always fighting with the
that you’re always fighting with the narrative that somebody else believes
narrative that somebody else believes
narrative that somebody else believes but the great thing about today the
but the great thing about today the
but the great thing about today the awesome thing about today is that it’s
awesome thing about today is that it’s
awesome thing about today is that it’s not just a handful of people that are in
not just a handful of people that are in
not just a handful of people that are in charge of the narrative I used to teach
charge of the narrative I used to teach
charge of the narrative I used to teach a creative writing class to middle
a creative writing class to middle
a creative writing class to middle school students and one of the first
school students and one of the first
school students and one of the first assignments they always gave to them was
assignments they always gave to them was
assignments they always gave to them was write a song write the lyrics to a song
write a song write the lyrics to a song
write a song write the lyrics to a song because a song is nothing more than a
because a song is nothing more than a
because a song is nothing more than a story told to a beat but these days
story told to a beat but these days
story told to a beat but these days someone can write a song record a song
someone can write a song record a song
someone can write a song record a song in a studio and put it on the Internet
in a studio and put it on the Internet
in a studio and put it on the Internet somebody can write a short story a novel
somebody can write a short story a novel
somebody can write a short story a novel a nonfiction book a play and they can
a nonfiction book a play and they can
a nonfiction book a play and they can package it and put it on the internet
package it and put it on the internet
package it and put it on the internet either for sale or for free and even if
either for sale or for free and even if
either for sale or for free and even if you’re not a creative you’re not an
you’re not a creative you’re not an
you’re not a creative you’re not an artist people are telling their stories
artist people are telling their stories
artist people are telling their stories one tweet at a time when face
one tweet at a time when face
one tweet at a time when face post at a time when Instagram photo with
post at a time when Instagram photo with
post at a time when Instagram photo with comments at a time each and every one of
comments at a time each and every one of
comments at a time each and every one of you could go home tonight and start a
you could go home tonight and start a
you could go home tonight and start a new blog and it can go live tomorrow
new blog and it can go live tomorrow
new blog and it can go live tomorrow speaking of Facebook you ever noticed
speaking of Facebook you ever noticed
speaking of Facebook you ever noticed those of you are on Facebook that little
those of you are on Facebook that little
those of you are on Facebook that little feature called live it pops up all live
feature called live it pops up all live
feature called live it pops up all live is a storytelling in motion and if
is a storytelling in motion and if
is a storytelling in motion and if you’re on Facebook you’ve seen people
you’re on Facebook you’ve seen people
you’re on Facebook you’ve seen people celebrate live you’ve seen people mourn
celebrate live you’ve seen people mourn
celebrate live you’ve seen people mourn live you’ve even seen people die live
live you’ve even seen people die live
live you’ve even seen people die live and so in telling stories know that just
and so in telling stories know that just
and so in telling stories know that just by you sharing something on Facebook or
by you sharing something on Facebook or
by you sharing something on Facebook or on Twitter or in a blog you’re impacting
on Twitter or in a blog you’re impacting
on Twitter or in a blog you’re impacting people what’s going to impact you more
people what’s going to impact you more
people what’s going to impact you more reading on Facebook about a friend who
reading on Facebook about a friend who
reading on Facebook about a friend who just told you about how their brother
just told you about how their brother
just told you about how their brother committed suicide and why are seeing a
committed suicide and why are seeing a
committed suicide and why are seeing a 1-800 suicide number on the side of the
1-800 suicide number on the side of the
1-800 suicide number on the side of the bus as you’re driving to work one’s a
bus as you’re driving to work one’s a
bus as you’re driving to work one’s a story one’s just information and that’s
story one’s just information and that’s
story one’s just information and that’s why the whole point of what I’m talking
why the whole point of what I’m talking
why the whole point of what I’m talking about is we’re all looking for stories
about is we’re all looking for stories
about is we’re all looking for stories for information for things that touches
for information for things that touches
for information for things that touches to rise above the noise and I’ll be
to rise above the noise and I’ll be
to rise above the noise and I’ll be honest that’s one of the things that
honest that’s one of the things that
honest that’s one of the things that most irritated me about the election and
most irritated me about the election and
most irritated me about the election and be clear it was going to be its own
be clear it was going to be its own
be clear it was going to be its own special kind of ugly no matter who won
special kind of ugly no matter who won
special kind of ugly no matter who won we all know this but one of the worst
we all know this but one of the worst
we all know this but one of the worst things about the election is it wasn’t
things about the election is it wasn’t
things about the election is it wasn’t about storytelling it was about people
about storytelling it was about people
about storytelling it was about people trying to tell other people’s stories it
trying to tell other people’s stories it
trying to tell other people’s stories it wasn’t about folks saying here’s my
wasn’t about folks saying here’s my
wasn’t about folks saying here’s my story let me share it so one of the
story let me share it so one of the
story let me share it so one of the things that I really have become late in
things that I really have become late in
things that I really have become late in life as a storyteller is I became a
life as a storyteller is I became a
life as a storyteller is I became a playwright a few years ago and little
playwright a few years ago and little
playwright a few years ago and little did I know that that was going to be
did I know that that was going to be
did I know that that was going to be my big AHA about storytelling my first
my big AHA about storytelling my first
my big AHA about storytelling my first play was a ten-minute play that was put
play was a ten-minute play that was put
play was a ten-minute play that was put on I should say the first play that was
on I should say the first play that was
on I should say the first play that was on stage was a ten-minute play at the
on stage was a ten-minute play at the
on stage was a ten-minute play at the barn players in Johnson County and it
barn players in Johnson County and it
barn players in Johnson County and it was inspired by my grandmother who has
was inspired by my grandmother who has
was inspired by my grandmother who has Alzheimer’s disease she’s infected a
Alzheimer’s disease she’s infected a
Alzheimer’s disease she’s infected a nursing home just down the road and
nursing home just down the road and
nursing home just down the road and anybody who knows me personally knows
anybody who knows me personally knows
anybody who knows me personally knows that my grandmother is that the mushy is
that my grandmother is that the mushy is
that my grandmother is that the mushy is softest piece of my heart so it was only
softest piece of my heart so it was only
softest piece of my heart so it was only natural they probably that inspired me
natural they probably that inspired me
natural they probably that inspired me to write a little 10-minute play and
to write a little 10-minute play and
to write a little 10-minute play and when the play was over the woman sitting
when the play was over the woman sitting
when the play was over the woman sitting to the right of me who didn’t know I was
to the right of me who didn’t know I was
to the right of me who didn’t know I was the playwright turned to her friend to
the playwright turned to her friend to
the playwright turned to her friend to the right of her and she was very
the right of her and she was very
the right of her and she was very emotional talking about I don’t know who
emotional talking about I don’t know who
emotional talking about I don’t know who wrote that but they totally nailed what
wrote that but they totally nailed what
wrote that but they totally nailed what it’s like to have to make decisions
it’s like to have to make decisions
it’s like to have to make decisions about an older sick relative and let me
about an older sick relative and let me
about an older sick relative and let me just tell you that was like that oh that
just tell you that was like that oh that
just tell you that was like that oh that that the heavens opening up like what
that the heavens opening up like what
that the heavens opening up like what because I can tell you with all the
because I can tell you with all the
because I can tell you with all the stories I wrote as a reporter with
stories I wrote as a reporter with
stories I wrote as a reporter with columns I’ve written as a columnist with
columns I’ve written as a columnist with
columns I’ve written as a columnist with diversity training I’ve done with
diversity training I’ve done with
diversity training I’ve done with arguing before judges there’s something
arguing before judges there’s something
arguing before judges there’s something about someone reacting in front of you
about someone reacting in front of you
about someone reacting in front of you to a story you told and seeing it move
to a story you told and seeing it move
to a story you told and seeing it move them that made me go all here we go this
them that made me go all here we go this
them that made me go all here we go this is something so I think it would be
is something so I think it would be
is something so I think it would be fitting for me to wrap this up with
fitting for me to wrap this up with
fitting for me to wrap this up with telling you my actual true story no
telling you my actual true story no
telling you my actual true story no jokes aside I was born right here in
jokes aside I was born right here in
jokes aside I was born right here in Kansas City Kansas in the 60s in fact
Kansas City Kansas in the 60s in fact
Kansas City Kansas in the 60s in fact about to celebrate the anniversary of my
about to celebrate the anniversary of my
about to celebrate the anniversary of my birth next week to a single mother and
birth next week to a single mother and
birth next week to a single mother and heard my grandparents already told you
heard my grandparents already told you
heard my grandparents already told you how much my grandmother they were
how much my grandmother they were
how much my grandmother they were awesome and they raised me to just be
awesome and they raised me to just be
awesome and they raised me to just be for good or bad Who I am today
for good or bad Who I am today
for good or bad Who I am today but the biggest tool they gave me were
but the biggest tool they gave me were
but the biggest tool they gave me were actually two things one is they provided
actually two things one is they provided
actually two things one is they provided a great education for me and two they
a great education for me and two they
a great education for me and two they really indulge my love of all stories i
really indulge my love of all stories i
really indulge my love of all stories i mean i could tell you about every major
mean i could tell you about every major
mean i could tell you about every major story line on a soap opera since the 70s
story line on a soap opera since the 70s
story line on a soap opera since the 70s and because of what they provided i was
and because of what they provided i was
and because of what they provided i was able to become a journalist in a lawyer
able to become a journalist in a lawyer
able to become a journalist in a lawyer and an educator and a speaker and a
and an educator and a speaker and a
and an educator and a speaker and a writer and a playwright which you know
writer and a playwright which you know
writer and a playwright which you know because now I can look back on that life
because now I can look back on that life
because now I can look back on that life what’s the big deal but as a child that
what’s the big deal but as a child that
what’s the big deal but as a child that was as foreign a concept to me as
was as foreign a concept to me as
was as foreign a concept to me as growing up to be a pirate our scuba
growing up to be a pirate our scuba
growing up to be a pirate our scuba diver are the Queen of England and so
diver are the Queen of England and so
diver are the Queen of England and so because I was able to create new world
because I was able to create new world
because I was able to create new world for myself it’d just be sort of became
for myself it’d just be sort of became
for myself it’d just be sort of became natural than I thought I want to tell
natural than I thought I want to tell
natural than I thought I want to tell more stories and so if there’s one thing
more stories and so if there’s one thing
more stories and so if there’s one thing I totally realize with everything I’ve
I totally realize with everything I’ve
I totally realize with everything I’ve done is that no matter how upset I get
done is that no matter how upset I get
done is that no matter how upset I get about what goes on in the world what
about what goes on in the world what
about what goes on in the world what goes on in the country what even goes on
goes on in the country what even goes on
goes on in the country what even goes on in my personal life I’m a believer I am
in my personal life I’m a believer I am
in my personal life I’m a believer I am a crazy believer in the power and the
a crazy believer in the power and the
a crazy believer in the power and the magic of storytelling so if there’s
magic of storytelling so if there’s
magic of storytelling so if there’s nothing else you remember from the night
nothing else you remember from the night
nothing else you remember from the night besides the chicken sandwich versus the
besides the chicken sandwich versus the
besides the chicken sandwich versus the chicken dinner story it’s how important
chicken dinner story it’s how important
chicken dinner story it’s how important it is for you to tell your stories and
it is for you to tell your stories and
it is for you to tell your stories and to be truthful in your stories and to
to be truthful in your stories and to
to be truthful in your stories and to listen to other people’s stories and to
listen to other people’s stories and to
listen to other people’s stories and to hear in your heart their truth because
hear in your heart their truth because
hear in your heart their truth because that’s the only thing that’s ever going
that’s the only thing that’s ever going
that’s the only thing that’s ever going to rise above the noise it’s the only
to rise above the noise it’s the only
to rise above the noise it’s the only thing that’s going to ever change
thing that’s going to ever change
thing that’s going to ever change anything and all I can say is let’s do
anything and all I can say is let’s do
anything and all I can say is let’s do it one story at a time thank you
it one story at a time thank you
it one story at a time thank you you
”
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